@eirene_belle: You don’t have to be scared and hesitant because of the lye, try and make the authentic soft german pretzels (BREZELN) recipe today! LYE IS A MUST Some people think lye is unsafe to use. So I felt the need to preface that there is NOTHING to be scared about when using real lye if you follow my tips to a tee! Because only lye will give you that authentic flavor, texture and look that real German pretzels have. There are some popular recipes out there using baking soda instead of lye, but you will NEVER achieve an authentic taste going that direction. CAN I MAKE GERMAN PRETZELS WITHOUT LYE? Yes, it’s possible. Although don’t expect the same, authentic taste. If using baking soda, bake the baking soda on a baking sheet covered with foil for an hour at 250 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes it more alkaline and closer to a PH value of lye. This way the pretzels will taste more authentic without the use of lye (although not quite as authentic as using real lye).