Mia Patel
KFC's blend of 11 herbs and spices is one of the best-kept secrets in the fast-food industry. The recipe is said to be kept in a vault within the company's Kentucky headquarters and only a few people are purported to know the exact ingredients and measurements. In 2016, a reporter claimed to have found a copy of the original KFC fried chicken recipe in a scrapbook belonging to Colonel Sanders' nephew, Joe Ledington. The recipe includes dried thyme, dried basil, salt, celery salt, dried oregano, paprika, garlic salt, dried mustard, ground black pepper, ground white pepper, and ground ginger.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of herbs and spices | 11 |
| Recipe | Secret |
| Recipe holders | A few people |
| Recipe location | KFC's headquarters in Louisville |
| Recipe format | Handwritten |
| Recipe security | Intense security measures |
| Recipe container | Vault |
| Recipe copy | Signed by Sanders |
| Recipe holders (exact) | 1 |
| Recipe ingredients | Salt, thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, black pepper, dried mustard, paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger, white pepper |
| Recipe ingredients (alternate) | Flour, salt, monosodium glutamate, black pepper |
| Recipe ingredients (alternate) | Sage, savory, Tellicherry black pepper |
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What You'll Learn
- KFC's blend of 11 herbs and spices is a closely guarded secret
- The recipe was perfected in 1939 by Colonel Sanders
- It's been speculated that the recipe includes dried thyme, dried basil, salt, celery salt, dried oregano, paprika, garlic salt, dried mustard, black pepper, white pepper, and ground ginger
- KFC denies that the recipe leaked in 2016 by Joe Ledington, Colonel Sanders' nephew, is authentic
- The recipe is kept in a vault within the company's Kentucky headquarters
KFC's blend of 11 herbs and spices is a closely guarded secret
In 2016, the Chicago Tribune gained access to a possible version of the recipe from Colonel Sanders' nephew, Joe Ledington. Ledington shared a handwritten recipe from a family scrapbook, which he claimed was the original blend he helped create as a boy. The recipe includes dried thyme, dried basil, salt, celery salt, dried oregano, paprika, garlic salt, dried mustard, ground black pepper, ground white pepper, and ground ginger, mixed with two cups of flour. However, KFC denied the authenticity of this recipe, maintaining the secrecy of their blend.
While the exact ingredients and measurements remain a mystery to the public, some details about the preparation and cooking process have been revealed. It is known that each piece of chicken is dipped in water for seven seconds, dried for seven seconds, and then rolled in the herb and spice mixture seven times before frying. This process ensures a thorough coating of the chicken, resulting in the distinct KFC flavor.
The secret recipe has been a source of speculation and intrigue for many years, with numerous attempts made to replicate it. KFC's refusal to disclose the ingredients has only added to its appeal, and the blend of 11 herbs and spices has become synonymous with the brand's identity. The company has successfully leveraged this secrecy as a marketing strategy, creating a sense of exclusivity and intrigue that has kept customers curious and loyal.
While the exact recipe remains under lock and key, KFC's blend of 11 herbs and spices continues to be a closely guarded secret. The company's dedication to preserving the secrecy of their signature flavor showcases the importance of maintaining a unique selling point in the competitive fast-food industry.
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The recipe was perfected in 1939 by Colonel Sanders
The recipe for KFC's famous fried chicken was perfected in 1939 by Colonel Harland Sanders. The recipe is a closely guarded secret, with KFC going to great lengths to protect it. It is said that only a handful of people know the exact recipe, and it is kept securely in a vault at KFC's headquarters in Louisville.
The recipe is known to include 11 herbs and spices, and while the exact ingredients remain a mystery, there has been speculation and some attempts at recreating it. In 2016, a Chicago Tribune reporter claimed to have accessed a handwritten recipe from a Sanders family scrapbook, believed to be the original blend of 11 herbs and spices. The recipe, which included dried thyme, dried basil, salt, celery salt, dried oregano, paprika, garlic salt, dried mustard, ground black pepper, ground white pepper, and ground ginger, was said to be mixed with two cups of flour.
While KFC denied the authenticity of this recipe, it came close enough that some believed it to be the real deal. To prepare the chicken, each piece is dipped in water for seven seconds, dried for seven seconds, and then rolled in the spice mixture seven times before frying. This method ensures a consistent and flavorful coating on each piece of chicken.
The Original Recipe, as it came to be known, was finalized by Sanders in July 1940. He partnered with Pete Harman, and together they marketed the chicken in the 1950s as Kentucky Fried Chicken. The spices were shipped already mixed to restaurants to preserve the secrecy of the recipe.
To this day, KFC has never revealed the exact ingredients or measurements of their famous 11 herbs and spices blend, keeping it one of the most well-kept secrets in the fast-food industry.
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It's been speculated that the recipe includes dried thyme, dried basil, salt, celery salt, dried oregano, paprika, garlic salt, dried mustard, black pepper, white pepper, and ground ginger
KFC's Original Recipe is a closely guarded secret mix of 11 herbs and spices, which has been used to produce fried chicken since 1939. The recipe was perfected by Colonel Harland Sanders, who found that using a pressure fryer produced tasty, moist chicken in eight or nine minutes.
In 2016, a Chicago Tribune reporter claimed to have obtained the original KFC secret recipe from Colonel Sanders' nephew, Joe Ledington. The recipe, which was found in a Sanders family scrapbook, includes the following herbs and spices: dried thyme, dried basil, salt, celery salt, dried oregano, paprika, garlic salt, dried mustard, black pepper, white pepper, and ground ginger.
According to the recipe, these ingredients are mixed with two cups of flour to create the iconic KFC breading. While KFC has denied the authenticity of this recipe, it is widely believed to be very close to the original. The recipe has been tested by food enthusiasts and chefs, with some claiming that the resulting chicken tastes indistinguishable from the batch bought at KFC.
To prepare the chicken, the pieces are soaked in a buttermilk-egg bath and then dredged in the herb-spice-flour mixture. The chicken is then fried in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) until golden brown. This process, along with the secret blend of herbs and spices, contributes to the unique taste and texture of KFC chicken.
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KFC denies that the recipe leaked in 2016 by Joe Ledington, Colonel Sanders' nephew, is authentic
KFC's Original Recipe is a closely guarded trade secret, with the company claiming that only a few people know the exact mix of 11 herbs and spices. The original handwritten recipe is kept in a vault at KFC's headquarters in Louisville.
In August 2016, a Chicago Tribune reporter claimed to have discovered the original KFC fried chicken recipe. The recipe was reportedly found in a Sanders family scrapbook, given to the reporter by Joe Ledington, Colonel Sanders' nephew. Ledington said he used to blend the spices for his uncle's world-famous fried chicken as a boy, and believed the recipe to be authentic.
The Tribune staffers conducted a cooking test of the recipe, which included ingredients like white pepper, thyme, basil, oregano, and three kinds of salt. They had to determine whether "'Ts'" in the recipe meant tablespoons or teaspoons, which would significantly alter the spice-to-breading ratio. They also added MSG as a flavor enhancer, which made their fried chicken taste indistinguishable from KFC's.
Despite the similarities, KFC denied that the recipe leaked by Ledington was authentic. The company has a history of denying claims of recipe leaks, and has even sued individuals attempting to sell alleged copies of the recipe. KFC maintains that even they don't know the exact recipe, as they use separate companies to prepare the ingredients, which are then combined by a third party.
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The recipe is kept in a vault within the company's Kentucky headquarters
KFC's blend of 11 herbs and spices is one of the world's biggest culinary mysteries. The recipe is a closely guarded trade secret, and KFC has no intention of letting the secret slip anytime soon. The original handwritten recipe is kept inside a vault at KFC's headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. The building is a three-story colonial-style structure known colloquially as the "White House" due to its resemblance to the US President's residence.
In 1952, Colonel Harland Sanders franchised his recipe, and to preserve its secrecy, the spices were shipped already mixed to restaurants. KFC employs various companies to contribute different ingredients to the recipe, so no one supplier knows the full recipe. The company has also never patented the recipe, as patents are published in detail and come with an expiration date, whereas trade secrets can remain the intellectual property of their holders forever.
In August 2016, the Chicago Tribune reported that Joe Ledington, Colonel Sanders' nephew, had found a copy of the original KFC fried chicken recipe in a Sanders family scrapbook. Ledington claimed that the recipe contained the original 11 herbs and spices he helped his uncle blend as a boy. However, he later back-pedalled, saying he wasn't sure if it was the same recipe that KFC uses today. Tribune staffers conducted a cooking test of this recipe, and they decided the chicken should be soaked in buttermilk and coated once in the breading mixture, then fried in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) in a pressure fryer until golden brown. They also added MSG as a flavour enhancer, and the resulting fried chicken tasted "indistinguishable" from KFC's.
While KFC denies that the recipe is authentic, it's unlikely they would admit it if it were true. The only people who can say for sure are the keepers of the recipe at KFC's parent company, Yum! Brands. When asked about the recipe, the company responded, "Lots of people through the years have claimed to discover or figure out the secret recipe, but no one's ever been right."
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Frequently asked questions
KFC's fried chicken contains 11 herbs and spices.
The exact recipe is a closely guarded secret. However, in 2016, a reporter claimed to have seen a handwritten recipe from Colonel Sanders' nephew, Joe Ledington, which included dried thyme, dried basil, salt, celery salt, dried oregano, paprika, garlic salt, dried mustard, ground black pepper, ground white pepper, and ground ginger.
The chicken is dipped in water for seven seconds, dried for seven seconds, and then rolled in the herb and spice mixture seven times before frying.
The recipe is one of the most famous trade secrets in the catering industry. Former KFC owner John Y. Brown, Jr. called it "a brilliant marketing ploy."
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