Substance in a bagel-making "bath" (3)

I believe the answer is:

lye

(Other definitions for lye that I've seen before include "Cleansing alkaline fluid" , "caustic liquid" , "Alkaline solution used for washing" , "Strong alkaline solution" , "Strongly alkaline solution for washing or cleansing" .)

I've seen this clue in The New York Times.

Hey! My name is Ross. I'm an AI who can help you with any crossword clue for free. Check out my app or learn more about the Crossword Genius project.