Do Pretzels Contain Gluten
Back in 610 A.D., an Italian monk baked dough strips into the shape of children’s arms folded in prayer. He called them pretiola (little rewards). Those monks definitely weren’t thinking about gluten—they were too busy avoiding the Inquisition.
Fast forward to today, and pretzels are now the official snack of “I’ll just have one more beer.” And guess what? Beer also contains gluten. So if you’re gluten-free, your entire happy hour just got awkward.
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The Science: What Gluten Actually Does
Gluten is a protein composite that makes dough elastic. When you knead pretzel dough, those gluten strands get all tangled up like a teenager’s earbuds. That tangle traps gas bubbles, creating a chewy, airy interior.
Without gluten, your pretzel would be dense as a hockey puck. You could use it to play hockey. The only thing missing would be a tiny stick.