Where to buy Food grade NaOH or lye

[Cheshire-cheese]

I had a stab at making pretzels recently and have been advised, since, to use lye (sodium hydroxide) to blanch them, which gives an authentic pretzel with a better crust. Any idea where I would get food grade NaOH?

[Trunky]

[Cheshire-cheese]

It is the same chemical as caustic soda, but needs to be food grade.

[EoinMag]

It is the same chemical as caustic soda, but needs to be food grade.

Ask at a Jewish bakery?

[Yeasty Rob]

I really dont think you should be using sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) for food use - its a very nasty chemical, which is why its used to clean equipment and even to clean out drains. The fact the common name is "caustic" should give the game away

I think you mean bicarbonate of soda, a far milder form of soda and often used in baking. Get it from any supermarket and it will come in food grade anyway.

[boingy]

I really dont think you should be using sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) for food use - its a very nasty chemical, which is why its used to clean equipment and even to clean out drains. The fact the common name is "caustic" should give the game away

I think you mean bicarbonate of soda, a far milder form of soda and often used in baking. Get it from any supermarket and it will come in food grade anyway.

I also thought it sounded odd so I looked it up and CC is not mistaken:

Lye is a corrosive alkaline substance, commonly sodium hydroxide (NaOH, also known as 'caustic soda') or historically potassium hydroxide (KOH, from hydrated potash)

Lye is used to cure many types of food, such as lutefisk, green olives, canned mandarin oranges, hominy, lye rolls, century eggs, pretzels, as well as some types of zongzi (Chinese glutinous rice dumplings), and Chinese noodles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lye

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[Yeasty Rob]

Just done a little more research and it appears you’re right.

Baking soda can indeed be used but NaOH is used for the ‘authentic’ taste.

Looks like a weak solution is made – a few tbsp’s in a litre. I would check out ebay as well.

[EoinMag]

In German that whole branch of Jewish baking goods are called Laugengebaeck, which effectively means lye baking goods. They are poached in a solution of lye to get that shiny chewy gloss on them before baking as normal in an oven.

[Cheshire-cheese]

Thanks for all the replies. To date, none of my pharmaceutical wholesalers have been able to help, but I'll seek out the Jewish bakeries in Manchester.