Gotta love Costco. I mean, I do, but I’m always amazed at the kind of stuff I’ll find there. There’s always something that’s too big, a little outrageous, or just a bit coming out of left field. For example, the 8-foot tall, $230 teddy bear they trot out every year around this time. Today, the catch was this enormous bucket of pretzels; I mean, it’s not a jar any longer. It’s a bucket. Introducing the 1.47-kilogram, ginormous bucket of Utz Specials Sourdough Pretzels, made in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Incidentally, I have today learned that Pennsylvania is the heart of the American pretzel industry, thanks to this overly informative Wikipedia page.
Utz Specials Sourdough Pretzels
I’m sorry I didn’t include a specific frame of reference in the picture. Trust me when I say that this bucket of pretzels is truly deserving of the name ‘bucket’. It contains 1.47 kilograms of delicious pretzels, which translates into roughly 3.25 pounds. That’s a lot of pretzels. These will go well with my other snacks.
All that sourdough deliciousness comes at the price of $8.99 at my local Costco. It does feel weird to be buying such an obviously enormous quantity of something. I really felt strange coming out of the store with my massive tub o’ salt.
When it comes to nutrition, these pretzels are clearly not there, unless you’re low on salt, then they’ll do the job admirably. Each 5-pretzel portion (which can be consumed in 30 seconds or less, if you’re in no rush) contains an impressive 19% of your daily recommended salt intake. Just have a look at the pretzels in the picture. They are clearly covered in coarse salt. Yummy! I’m serious.
Here’s a look at the ingredients take make up those delicious sourdough pretzels:
- Unbleached enriched flour
- Salt
- Palm and/or corn oils
- Maltodextrin
- Buttermilk powder
- Citric acid
- Lactic acid
- Yeast
- Natural flavor
- Vinegar
- Sodium bicarbonate
I’m always happy to see that Costco is promoting products that do not contain mountains of unpronounceable ingredients; of course, that’s what the members and customers are asking for, but it’s good to see them stepping up to the plate.
As to the pretzels, well, they are everything that a pretzel should be. Crunchy, dry but not too dry, salty with that distinctive sourdough taste. Just try ’em , they’re awesome. I don’t know how long my Costco will carry the Utz Specials Sourdough Pretzels, but I hope they last. If they don’t, well, the tub’s big enough to last me a week or two.
If you’re