German Soft Pretzel

Name: German Soft Pretzel
Prep time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: European, German
Ingredients: 500 grams (4 cups) bread flour (all purpose flour will do as well); 300 gr (1 1/4 cups) lukewarm milk; 2 tsp dry yeast; 1 tsp sea salt.; 1/2 stick of butter (melt then cool to room temp); maldon salt (2 tsp; other course salt will do too); baking soda (110 grams or 3.5 oz); Pot for boiling water - like for spaghetti or deep cast iron; Oven; Mixing bowl; Scale; Mixing spoon; Slotted spoon; small knife; baking sheets; parchment paper