8 Frozen Soft Pretzels, Ranked Worst To Best

Are you team soft or hard when it comes to pretzels? It's a tough call. Brittle hard pretzels are a primo pick for everyday salty snacking. Meanwhile, a baseball game or a trip to the mall food court wouldn't be the same without a soft pretzel paired with a cup of neon-colored nacho cheese (which technically isn't real cheese). Each has its own time and place. But for me, it's the soft pretzel that rules over all pretzel types.

I struggle to understand how anyone could resist a soft pretzel. I mean, the fluffy-yet-chewy interior wrapped in a golden-brown crust (typically achieved through a quick dip in an alkali bath)? Then you have the rich, buttery flavor that speaks to lovers of both sweet and savory. It's topped with pretzel salt and served with a dip – my mouth is watering just thinking about it. The only problem is that everything good about a soft pretzel is simultaneously what makes me wary of store-bought versions.

Frozen products aren't exactly known for their stellar textures and fresh tastes. But I was willing to take one for the team to find the very best frozen soft pretzel out there. I picked up a collection of brands and types to sample (and no, they're not all from the prominent SuperPretzel brand). I was looking for that elusive combination of flavor, texture, and quality — something that matches the soft pretzel energy you get from a concession stand or county fair. Here's how they stacked up.

It wouldn't be a grocery taste test without a few store-brand dupes. Meijer sells its own version of frozen soft pretzels, which I found right next to the rows of yellow SuperPretzel boxes. Meijer's are in no way flashy — unless, of course, you're looking solely at price. In that case, they're just about as budget-friendly as it gets, ringing up at $2.79 for a pack of six.

The box touts that the pretzels are ready in seconds, but since I went the conventional oven method instead of the microwave route, that turned into a few minutes. Honestly, I'd still count that as convenient, and the included salt packet gave them a classic pretzel finish. They do and say all the right things. But when it comes to taste, they start edging into cardboard territory. It's not necessarily the texture that's the problem. I still reveled in their spotty squishiness. It's the fact that they dry your mouth out and leave you with an earthy aftertaste — a different kind of earthy than the light alkaline edge you'd expect from a pretzel.

At the end of the day, they're edible, yet not fully equipped to satisfy those soft pretzel cravings. I would really only resort to buying them again if I were trying to save money while feeding a crowd. Either that, or if I was planning to dunk them in ample amounts of nacho cheese, honey mustard, or other sauces to mask some of those less-than-great flavors.

It's like a case of déjà vu. But really I shouldn't be surprised that two humble Midwestern grocers bake up a similar kind of soft pretzel. Meijer's and Giant Eagle's renditions aligned on nearly every front, from the quick-bake promises and price on the box to the size and traditional twist shape of the pretzels inside. Don't worry, Giant Eagle also provides a salt packet for sprinkling — the part of the process where you can pretend that you at least did some of the cooking.

Despite the similarities, I had to pit one against the other for the sake of the taste test. And I'd say that Giant Eagle wins that battle ... barely. The store's pretzels have a springier texture, and they're the slightest bit crunchier on the outside. They're also a bit more malty than Meijer's pretzels. But overall, I'd still call the flavor "plain" at best. There was no butteriness or subtle sweetness. I quietly thanked the coarse salt for carrying the majority of the taste. My advice? Don't be shy with the salt. You're going to need it.

Again, my mind immediately went to a middle-of-the-road pretzel. It's just not something I would polish off and say, "I'm so happy I ate that." Instead, it's a far less exciting, I'll-eat-it-just-because-it's-there kind of experience.

Don't count them out just because they're gluten-free (like I nearly did). Gluten-free products have been making some serious strides as of late, and the Katz brand is evidence of that. Alongside gluten-free breads, donuts, and pastries, the brand's soft pretzel nuggets are a vast improvement over the sad little bricks I was expecting.

The box didn't offer any in-the-oven prep instructions, and to avoid the finicky nature of microwave cooking I decided to make these in the air fryer. I'm not sure whether or not I should credit this cooking method or the recipe itself, but the texture turned out spot-on. They're far doughier than I thought they would be. Each one is a supple pillow protected by a shell that's slightly crisp. They nearly fooled me into thinking they were made with gluten. But the flavor gives away that these are not your average pretzel bites. They trade wheat flour for rice flour, chickpea flour, and potato flour, giving them a starchier and more grain-forward flavor. It's not quite the bready, toasty taste that defines a pretzel.

So, where does that leave Katz? It's a good alternative that pulls ahead of both Giant Eagle and Meijer thanks to an unexpectedly satisfying bite. But if you want that true puffed-up German-style experience, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Eastern Standard Provisions claims to have the best pretzels. However, I had never heard of them before my trip to a local organic market. I will say, though, once you see them, you're highly likely to remember them. That's because they forego the classic twist and mini nugget formats that you're used to seeing and instead go with a sailor's knot shape with a twist on one side and a loop on the other. The brand also includes a regular salt packet and a three-cheese salt packet. Flavored salt is not something I've seen before with soft pretzels. They're really trying to win us over, aren't they?

I think they would have made it much further in the taste test, but something tripped me up: The bake time is set a bit too long. The pretzel came out far crunchier than it should be. A little crunch on the exterior is fine, but too much makes it feel like you're eating a hard pretzel stick from a bag, and that's what happened here.

Otherwise, this is a really quality pretzel. I liked the more brioche-style taste and the fact that it just seems more gourmet. Also, there are still some soft and supple areas, particularly hiding in the twist part. I'm additionally willing to overlook the fact that the cheesy salt tastes no different from the regular (yes, I even tried both side-by-side without the pretzel just to be sure).

It's a bird... It's a plane... It's SuperPretzel! But instead of being found in the sky, it can be found in every single grocery store freezer case you can think of — still an equally impressive feat, if you ask me.

Did you know that the brand actually got its name because its founder, Gerry Shreiber, was a Superman superfan? And that name must hold some kind of power, because SuperPretzel has become practically ubiquitous when it comes to soft pretzels. It sets the standard, especially now that you can find the brand everywhere from stadiums and movie theaters to amusement parks. Whenever and wherever a soft pretzel craving hits, SuperPretzel is there to save the day.

After tasting its classic twist pretzels alongside seven other soft pretzels, it's easy to spot the appeal of a SuperPretzel. This is what your taste buds think of when they think of a soft pretzel. It's far softer than any of the previous options, but still has that dense, chewy bite. The flavor is good, too, with a richer, yeasty taste, a light alkaline crust, and, of course, that dusting of salt — you can go as light or as heavy as you'd like. I can't imagine the day when I pass up a SuperPretzel, especially when paired with a dish of warm beer cheese (a sauce that's a bit more complex than you might think). But even SuperPretzel has its kryptonite, and this twisted trademark gets knocked out by the next three picks.

SuperPretzel may have a little cannibalization problem on its hands. It's created a product that's even better than its flagship soft pretzels — so much better that it's hard to imagine returning to the originals, unless, of course, that was my only option.

You don't even have to read the name to know these pretzel sticks are Bavarian-inspired. They're practically begging for a spot at an Oktoberfest spread, laid out next to a few collection-worthy steins of beer. They're darker on the outside and more puffed up than the brand's classic pretzels, and my decision on how to rank the two was made as soon as I bit into that first stick (though I had a hunch the tables would turn in their favor long before I pulled them from the oven).

The soft crackled and glossy crust gives way to a warm and pillowy inside. Even though they appear thick, they squish down considerably and have enough internal moisture to never feel dry. Somehow the taste is also richer with stronger notes of umami. There's just something very likable about these pretzels. They feel heartier than your average SuperPretzel and like a major upgrade compared to the original recipe — which was already pretty famous to begin with. It's SuperPretzel 2.0, swooping in to steal all the glory.

I'm not sure which one came first, SuperPretzel's Bavarian pretzels or Kroger's. But what I can tell you is that the two are nearly indistinguishable. They both come in the same bloated stick shape with scoring that's typical of Bavarian-style pretzels. They also use a very similar list of ingredients, though they're not entirely identical.

With all of these parallels, it's not surprising that the tastes are similar. However, in this case, the underdog Kroger wins for a few important reasons. The store brand's sticks turned a little darker in the oven, which usually equates to a burnt flavor. But here it only helped to bring out the crust's toasty and savory alkaline taste even more. And don't worry, the inside was just as soft and delicious as ever — even more so than SuperPretzel's product. It was doughy, almost to the point of being undercooked, and I'm not afraid to admit that's exactly how I like my soft pretzels. It's the kind of snack that would pair perfectly with a wheaty Hefeweizen or a crisp Helles.

In a strange turn of events, Kroger's pretzels are actually the more expensive option. A box of 10 sells for $9.99, barring any kind of sale (which is frequent at Kroger). Meanwhile, I've seen SuperPretzel's box of 10 priced as low as $5.97. Even so, I'd still pick Kroger's — that's how you know they're good.

Picture this: You're strolling through the mall minding your own business when, bam! Your nostrils are suddenly assaulted by the most tantalizingly buttery, fresh-baked smell. It seems that you've just happened upon an Auntie Anne's pretzel location. It's the kind of Kodak moment that seems hard to replicate. But the chain has perfectly packaged up the experience so you can have all those same sensations at home.

We've all had a retail product that doesn't really taste like its restaurant equivalent. But these pretzels are spot on. The included butter packets, on top of the provided salt, do help and give the brand a definite advantage. But that's not the only reason they're the best. Instead of a more savory, malty flavor, Auntie Anne's bakes butteriness and a touch of sweetness right into its pretzels. They're just as soft as SuperPretzel's classic twists, but feel even more like an indulgent treat. Top that with even more butter and plenty of flaky salt, and it's game over. Not to mention, they also make a perfect base for a sandstorm of cinnamon sugar.

They stay true to that distinctly Auntie Anne's taste that you just can't find anywhere else. Personally, I'm a slave to the nostalgia and that familiar sweet and yeasty taste. So, Auntie Anne's is my winner, even over the two Bavarian contenders.

I picked up this collection of frozen soft pretzels from various grocery stores in Columbus, Ohio. These included Kroger, Giant Eagle, Meijer, and a smaller organic grocery store called Lucky's Market. I picked up every variety I could find, including both big brand names and store-brand items. I did pick up two different boxes from SuperPretzel, since it's the biggest name in this space and has a range of options to pick from.

For most of the soft pretzels, I opted to warm them up in the oven based on the instructions on the box. Most also had both microwave and air fryer instructions, and I did air fry the Katz pretzel nuggets since it was the one brand that did not provide oven directions. All of the pretzels came equipped with a small baggie of pretzel salt, which I sprinkled on lightly so I could still get a feel for the pretzel's natural taste. I also skipped any dipping sauces for this same reason.

I tasted them all fresh from the oven or air fryer and ranked them based on each pretzel's texture and taste. I looked for pretzels that were soft and chewy, salty and buttery, and a bit toasty and crispy around the edges. I didn't necessarily care what shape they were in — twist, Bavarian stick, or nuggets — as long as they met all these requirements. I also briefly considered price, but typically only when I needed some kind of tie-breaker.