Taste Test: Whole-Grain Pretzels

Related To:

Attention, snack lovers! We munched on popular whole grain pretzels to find which brands stack up the best for taste, crunch, and of course, nutrition. Find out the winners (and losers) in our taste test.

The Criteria

We rated each brand on a 5-point scale (5 being the highest), scoring for taste, texture and nutrition information. We paid close attention to calories, sodium and fiber. Since all the pretzels varied in shape and size, we broke down the nutrition info per ounce serving.

Rating: 4
Cost: $2.99 per 10-ounce bag

Nutrition Info Per Ounce (8 pieces): 110 calories; 230 milligrams sodium; 1 gram fiber

Our Take: Great crunch and just enough sweet-and-salty flavor. They lost a point because whole wheat flour was second to enriched flour on the ingredient list. Plus, they were sweetened with honey and sugar.

Rating: 4
Cost: $4.29 per 8-ounce bag

Nutrition Info Per Ounce (24 pretzels): 140 calories; 420 milligrams sodium; 0 grams fiber.

Our Take: Surprisingly pretzel-y considering they’re made with mostly corn and potato starch. They are also made with palm oil,  which contributes 2.5 grams of saturated fat per serving, so be careful not to over-munch. These babies were also the most expensive, but are a wonderful option if you follow a gluten-free diet.

Rating: 3
Cost: $2.99 per 14-ounce bag

Nutrition Info Per Ounce (3 large pretzels): 110 calories; 380 milligrams sodium; 2 grams fiber

Our Take: You can definitely taste the barely, rye, flax and sesame in these pretzels. Wheat flour, whole wheat flour and honey round out the ingredients. They were a little too dry for our liking, and on the higher end for sodium. They’d probably be great dipped in some dark chocolate, but what wouldn’t?!

Rating: 2.5
Cost: $2.99 per 8-ounce bag

Nutrition Info Per Ounce (9 pretzels): 110 calories; 100 milligrams sodium; 3 grams fiber

Our Take: The least favorite of the bunch, these were grainy and tasted a bit like cardboard. They were tied for lowest in sodium and highest in protein. Whole-wheat flour was the first ingredient (a plus). Potato flour, honey and agave were also part of the recipe.

Rating: 5
Cost: $2.99 per 8-ounce bag

Nutrition Info Per Ounce (9 pretzels): 120 calories; 100 milligrams sodium; 3 grams fiber

Our Take: Much better texture and flavor than the other Snyder’s pretzel we sampled (above), these were made with whole grains like wheat, oats, flax, buckwheat, brown rice, quinoa and sesame. They had 4 grams of protein per serving and plenty of flavor despite the low sodium content.

TELL US: What's your favorite whole-grain pretzel?

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition. See Dana's full bio »

You Might Also Like:

Next Up

Oreo Is Adding a New Gluten-Free Mint Flavor

There’s even more to choose from for those who must go without gluten.

Doritos Launches a Line of Dips That Taste Like Your Favorite Chip Flavors

The Spicy Nacho and Cool Ranch Jalapeno dips can also be paired with pizza, pretzels, vegetables, wings and more.

9 of the Spiciest Snacks in the World, Ranked

You'll want to have an ice cold glass of milk on standby!

Going With Gluten-Free Whole Grains

Silvana Nardone's Easy-Bake Breakfast Casserole is kid-friendly, gluten-free and made with whole-grain bread.

Taste Test: Gluten-Free Crackers

We tasted your favorite brands of gluten-free crackers and picked our favorites.

Taste Test: Frozen Cheese Pizza

Preparing balanced meals made with fresh ingredients isn’t exactly a priority for college kids. An old standby is often frozen pizza. Here are some ratings of popular, healthier cheese pizzas.

Taste Test: Gluten-Free Stuffings

We ranked the top gluten-free stuffings out there on nutrition, taste and cost. Find out which one to cook on Thanksgiving for your gluten-free family.  

Taste Test: Gluten-Free Breads

The gluten free phenomenon has lead to dozens of new products on store shelves. Breads and baked goods are some of the hardest foods to make tasty and sans gluten. We polled our readers took their favorite brands for a test drive.

Taste Test: Gluten-Free Frozen Pizza

Here is a look at five frozen gluten-free pies, find out how they stack up!

Taste Test: Gluten-Free Burger Buns

We rounded up dozens of gluten-free buns, and these bread winners rose to the top.