Shiny, golden, salt-crusted pretzels are a staple in many aschool lunch box.
And they’re not just for little ones.
Of course, taste matters when snack shopping.
Photos: The Brands. Design: Eat This, Not That!
The look:Unsurprisingly, given their name, these pretzels are golden and twisted.
The taste:Despite the visible salt, these pretzels lacked flavor.
The look:Quinn’s whole-grain pretzels are shaped into thin 3-inch rods.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
They have the familiar bumps of white salt all over and a honey-caramel color.
I find stick-shaped pretzels more challenging to eat and less satisfying than rounded twists.
They’re lightly sweet with a nice amount of salt that’s not overwhelming.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
The look:These twisted pretzels are thicker and larger than most.
They have flecks of white salt crystals on top and smooth, shiny bottoms.
The color is also a darker, richer brown than most pretzels I tried.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
The look:The cute checkerboard pattern adds to the charm of these unique pretzels.
They’re smooth, shiny, and mostly unmarked by salt.
These square pretzels are lightly salted, which helps highlight the rich butter flavor.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
They also have slightly less sodium per serving.
The olive oil adds a slick texture and rich flavor, elevating these snacks to your more basic pretzels.
They’re large and reminiscent of the hard snacks you’d find in a giant plastic jar.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
They have more visible salt stuck to the top and a smooth and shiny bottom.
The taste:The garlic flavor (and smell) is strong on these cheese-dusted pretzels.
I didn’t taste much parmesan flavor, but they’re definitely savory.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
The scent reminded me of pizza-flavored Pringles.
They’re snappy but not too thin, savory, or overly salted.
The look:These baked pretzels have a unique twisted rod shape.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
They’re pale and golden, with a sparse smattering of salt on all sides.
The taste:These pretzels are lightly sweet and buttery (they contain artificial butter flavor).
They have an almost honey-like taste that compliments the subtle seasoning from garlic and onion powders.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
These were my favorite seasoned pretzels in the bunch.
Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps
These flattened pretzel crispswon in the flavor, texture, and looks departments.
I also appreciated the convenience of a resealable bag.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
The look:These pretzel crisps have the traditional knot shape but are flattened into a thin cracker-like snack.
They’re shiny and bronze, thanks to malt syrup.
The taste:I thought these pretzel crackers had the best shape for dipping and the best flavor.
They’re lightly sweetened, with one serving containing 2 grams of added sugar.
Instead, the savory, well-seasoned snack keeps you reaching for more.
