The reasons why self-raising flour makes fried dough sticks hard mainly depend on the leavening agent, heat, dough mixing method and flour type. It is best to use special flour to make fried dough sticks, and follow the principle of "one alum, two alkali, and three salts" when making it. If the fried dough sticks become soft, you can fry the fried dough sticks for a longer period of time or add a little egg and oil.

Youtiao, also known as fried dough sticks, is an ancient Chinese pasta, a long and hollow fried food with a crunchy and chewy texture. It is one of the traditional Chinese breakfasts. "History of the Song Dynasty" records that during the Song Dynasty, Qin Hui persecuted Yue Fei, and the people expressed their anger by frying a dough-based food similar to fried dough sticks (fried cypress). The origin of similar fried pasta is far earlier than the Song Dynasty and can be traced back to before the Tang Dynasty. The specific period cannot be verified.