Home made Lye Water with step-by-step pictures

Methods to make do-it-yourself lye water to be used in recipes equivalent to Pretzels and Mooncakes. Recipe with step-by-step pictures.

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

The place to Purchase Lye Water

Lye water is available in Asian grocery shops in some nations, however not in others. It’s usually labelled as “Kansui” on most Asian packaging, and it’s basically a transparent answer which accommodates potassium carbonate.

Because of its efficiency and irritant issue, lye water is banned in some nations. At sure concentrations, lye water can irritate the pores and skin, which is why it’s not available in all places, and why lye is usually offered with strict directions for protected dealing with.

Home made Lye Water

A great substitute for lye water is a straightforward do-it-yourself lye water.

You may make your personal lye water at residence 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 can be extra alkaline than simply utilizing regular baking soda.

Recipe for Lye Water

To make the lye water to be used in most recipes (equivalent to for Mooncakes), use a ratio of 1:4 (1 half baked baking soda : 4 components 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 may specify what focus of lye water is required. For instance, when making my Gentle Pretzels, I take advantage of a ratio of 1:2.

Methods 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 utterly 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 you should use it. Merely dissolve the baked baking soda in some chilly water.

Precautions When Making Lye Water

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

Therefore, to be on the protected aspect, keep away from touching the baked baking soda together with your naked fingers, and put on gloves if you’re 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

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

Methods to make do-it-yourself lye water to be used in recipes equivalent to Pretzels and Mooncakes. Recipe with step-by-step pictures.

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 utterly.
6. Rigorously switch the baking soda to a sterilised glass jar. Take care to not contact the baked baking soda together with your naked fingers as it could irritate the pores and skin.

To Make the Lye Water

1. Make the lye water simply earlier than you should use it.
2. To make lye water to be used in most recipes, you should use a ratio of 1:4, i.e. 1 half baked baking soda to 4 components 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 you should use lye water solely often, 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 be sure 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’ve got a convection oven with a fan, please seek the advice of the producer’s handbook on methods to alter the temperature and baking time accordingly.

CONVERSIONS
To transform from cups to grams, and vice-versa, please see this useful Conversion Chart for Primary Elements.