Matt Villena on Instagram: "How to make pretzels… the real way 😎 To make true, authentic pretzels you need to use a lye solution. The lye solution helps break down the proteins and starches on the surfaces to intensify the browning during baking. This results in the classic pretzel color and aroma we love! If you want to try this for yourself, I’d recommend following @testkitchen recipe and guide for lye safety. It might seem scary, but as long as you’re being careful it isn’t anything to worry