Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for making soft pretzel sticks using a continuous production line. The method involves continuously extruding dough onto a conveyor belt using a dough delivery system. The extruded dough sheet is then cut into vertical strips with pastry cutting wheels. Optionally, the strips are curled into spirals using a torpedo-shaped curling device. The curled strips are proofed under controlled heat and humidity conditions for 25 to 55 minutes, allowing for optimal dough structure development. After proofing, optionally, the dough strips are enrobed or sprayed with a caustic soda solution, forming the surface texture and color characteristic of pretzels. The caustic-coated strips are cut into dough bites using a cutting device, leaving unexposed ends that create a lighter-colored “buckeye” effect. Finally, the pieces are baked to produce soft pretzel sticks with a chewy texture and unique appearance.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for making soft pretzel sticks using a continuous production line. The method involves conveying dough through a sheeting line to create an evenly thick sheet, which is further reduced to a uniform thickness using rollers. The dough sheet is then cut into vertical strips with pastry cutting wheels and curled into spirals using a torpedo-shaped curling device. The curled strips are proofed under controlled heat and humidity conditions for 25 to 55 minutes, allowing for optimal dough structure development. After proofing, the dough strips are enrobed or sprayed with a caustic soda solution, forming the surface texture and color characteristic of pretzels. The caustic-coated strips are cut into dough bites using a cutting device, leaving unexposed ends that create a lighter-colored “buckeye” effect. Finally, the pieces are baked to produce soft pretzel sticks with a chewy texture and unique appearance.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for making soft pretzel sticks and bites. The method involves conveying dough sheets, forming form V-shaped slot patterns, and trimming the dough sheet into parallel dough strips. The dough strips are cut along the midportion of each V-shaped slot pattern, producing dough strips with a central portion, and two series of dough segments extending from opposite sides of the central portion. The dough segments of each dough strips are folded into a braid pattern and cut into dough sticks or bites. The dough sticks and bites are washed in a caustic solution, allowing excess solution to drain through the braid pattern, then baked in an oven. The braid pattern allows the pretzel sticks and bites to expand and aerate during baking without being constrained by the pretzel skin, resulting in a soft, airy interior and a traditional exterior.

Abstract: A method of making a soft pretzel bite includes cutting a series of transverse slots on one lateral side of a dough strip, curling the transverse slotted dough strip into a respective rolled dough strip, exposing each transverse slot, and transversely cutting each rolled dough strip into dough bites. The method includes washing each dough bite in a caustic solution with the length of each transverse slot being sufficient for excess caustic solution to drain way from the dough bite. The dough bite is baked into a pretzel bite. Each transverse slot allows a volume of the pretzel bite to increase without being constrained by a pretzel skin formed around each transverse slot to aerate an interior of each pretzel bite.

Abstract: A method of making a soft pretzel bite includes cutting a series of transverse slots on one lateral side of a dough strip, curling the transverse slotted dough strip into a respective rolled dough strip, exposing each transverse slot, and transversely cutting each rolled dough strip into dough bites. The method includes washing each dough bite in a caustic solution with the length of each transverse slot being sufficient for excess caustic solution to drain way from the dough bite. The dough bite is baked into a pretzel bite. Each transverse slot allows a volume of the pretzel bite to increase without being constrained by a pretzel skin formed around each transverse slot to aerate an interior of each pretzel bite.

Abstract: A method of making a soft pretzel bite includes cutting a series of transverse slots on one lateral side of a dough strip, curling the transverse slotted dough strip into a respective rolled dough strip, exposing each transverse slot, and transversely cutting each rolled dough strip into dough bites. The method includes washing each dough bite in a caustic solution with the length of each transverse slot being sufficient for excess caustic solution to drain way from the dough bite. The dough bite is baked into a pretzel bite. Each transverse slot allows a volume of the pretzel bite to increase without being constrained by a pretzel skin formed around each transverse slot to aerate an interior of each pretzel bite.

Abstract: A method of making a soft pretzel bite includes cutting a series of transverse slots on one lateral side of a dough strip, curling the transverse slotted dough strip into a respective rolled dough strip, exposing each transverse slot, and transversely cutting each rolled dough strip into dough bites. The method includes washing each dough bite in a caustic solution with the length of each transverse slot being sufficient for excess caustic solution to drain way from the dough bite. The dough bite is baked into a pretzel bite. Each transverse slot allows a volume of the pretzel bite to increase without being constrained by a pretzel skin formed around each transverse slot to aerate an interior of each pretzel bite.