I’ve very often told myself that there’s no such thing as a superior pretzel, yet every time I eat Rold Gold pretzels they just seem better. I’ve decided to take this opportunity to really think about what makes Rold Gold pretzels better than most other pretzels. I should note that I’m excluding soft pretzels, they’re the best thing ever. Speaking of that, I’m not really sure I know the history of pretzels. I don’t know which came first and why one is soft while the other is hard, but that’s not really important right now.

There are hundreds of different companies making pretzels, but these Rold Gold are better. I believe the differences are minor, but there are many of them, so they add up. The first is the freshness. I don’t think I’ve ever had a Rold Gold pretzel that didn’t taste fresh. There are many reasons this could be, from preservatives to just making sure old bags are never sold. All I can say is staleness ruins a pretzel and if you can avoid it then you’re in good shape.

Next I would say that the diameter of the pretzel is important. I find that there are a few pretzels brands that are much thicker, and many that are thinner than Rold Gold. The right thickness allows for the perfect texture. Speaking of which, the texture of these pretzels seems to have a great balance of air and pretzel dough. Basically biting into these pretzels is very satisfying.

Finally the salt ratio is very good. I’m not sure what it takes to make salt stick to pretzels, but the folks that make Rold Gold have managed to get the right amount to stick. I like salty food, but too much salt on pretzels can make you very thirsty, and even cause your mouth to be a little sore. I can safely eat a bag of Rold Gold with no problems at all.

A pretzel is actually a very simple snack. It seems like everyone should be able to make a good one, but maybe that’s not true. Because of the simplicity, there’s no one big feature that can improve a pretzel. Instead you have to worry about the little details that make up a pretzel. These pretzels are yummy, and they’ve taught me a little something about this simple snack.