Selfmade Lye Water with step-by-step images

Tips on how to make home made lye water to be used in recipes resembling Pretzels and Mooncakes. Recipe with step-by-step images.

What’s Lye Water?

Lye water is a food-grade alkaline water utilized in some recipes to assist with texture or color.

For instance, lye water offers Pretzels their signature darkish brown color and style. For Mooncakes, a small quantity of lye water is used to provide the dough a deep, golden color.

The place to Purchase Lye Water

Lye water is available in Asian grocery shops in some international locations, however not in others. It’s typically labelled as “Kansui” on most Asian packaging, and it’s basically a transparent resolution which comprises potassium carbonate.

As a result of its efficiency and irritant issue, lye water is banned in some international locations. At sure concentrations, lye water can irritate the pores and skin, which is why it isn’t available in all places, and why lye is usually bought with strict directions for protected dealing with.

Selfmade Lye Water

substitute for lye water is an easy home made lye water.

You can also make your personal lye water at house with simply baking soda and water. Baking soda is an alkaline substance, and baking the baking soda intensifies its alkaline properties.

So an answer containing baked baking soda might be extra alkaline than simply utilizing regular baking soda.

Recipe for Lye Water

To make the lye water to be used in most recipes (resembling for Mooncakes), use a ratio of 1:4 (1 half baked baking soda : 4 elements water).

So if a recipe requires 1 teaspoon of lye water, merely combine 1/4 teaspoon of baked baking soda with 1 teaspoon of faucet water.

Different recipes would possibly specify what focus of lye water is required. For instance, when making my Gentle Pretzels, I take advantage of a ratio of 1:2.

Tips on how to Make Lye Water

Step 1

Spoon the baking soda into an oven-proof dish, ideally massive sufficient in order that the baking soda could be unfold out in a skinny layer.

Bake for 1 hour at 120°C/250°F (with out fan).

Step 2

Let the baking soda cool fully earlier than transferring it to an air-tight container for storage, and label it accordingly. I like to make use of a glass spice jar.

Step 3

Make the lye water simply earlier than it is advisable to use it. Merely dissolve the baked baking soda in some chilly water.

Precautions When Making Lye Water

Meals-grade lye water is pretty gentle and is protected for cooking. Nevertheless, individuals can react in a different way when their pores and skin comes into contact with lye water.

Therefore, to be on the protected facet, keep away from touching the baked baking soda along with your naked arms, and put on gloves in case you are a bit clumsy within the kitchen.

Recipes Utilizing Lye Water

The next recipes use Lye Water:

Mooncakes with Lotus Seed Paste and Salted Egg Yolk

Gentle Pretzels

Print

Lye Water

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5 from 8 critiques

• Creator: Thanh | Eat, Little Chook
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook dinner Time: 1 hour
• Whole Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 1/2 cup
• Class: Pantry
• Methodology: Oven
• Delicacies: Chinese language

Tips on how to make home made lye water to be used in recipes resembling Pretzels and Mooncakes. Recipe with step-by-step images.

Directions

To Bake the Baking Soda

1. Preheat the oven to 120°C/250°F (with out fan).
2. Place the baking soda right into a small oven-proof dish.
3. Bake the baking soda for 1 hour.
4. Take away the dish from the oven.
5. Let the baking soda cool fully.
6. Fastidiously switch the baking soda to a sterilised glass jar. Take care to not contact the baked baking soda along with your naked arms as it might irritate the pores and skin.

To Make the Lye Water

1. Make the lye water simply earlier than it is advisable to use it.
2. To make lye water to be used in most recipes, it is advisable to use a ratio of 1:4, i.e. 1 half baked baking soda to 4 elements water.
3. So for 1 teaspoon of lye water, combine 1/4 teaspoon baked baking soda with 1 teaspoon water.
4. Any unused lye water could be discarded down the kitchen drain.

Kitchen Notes

HOW MUCH BAKING SODA TO USE
If it is advisable to use lye water solely sometimes, I like to recommend baking about 1/2 cup of baking soda at a time and storing it in a glass jar or glass spice jar. The baked baking soda retains pretty properly indefinitely in a sterilised jar, however ensure you label it accordingly.

OVEN TEMPERATURES
All recipes on this web site state temperatures for an everyday oven (i.e. a standard oven with out fan). When you have a convection oven with a fan, please seek the advice of the producer’s handbook on easy methods to alter the temperature and baking time accordingly.

CONVERSIONS
To transform from cups to grams, and vice-versa, please see this helpful Conversion Chart for Fundamental Components.