Jake Harper
The KFC Original Recipe is a closely guarded blend of 11 herbs and spices used to produce fried chicken. The recipe is one of the best-kept secrets in the fast-food industry and has been the subject of much speculation and intrigue. Many have tried to replicate the recipe, and while some claim to have succeeded, KFC denies their authenticity. The recipe is not patented, allowing it to remain a trade secret and preserving its value as a marketing tool.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of herbs and spices | 11 |
| Recipe | Secret |
| Recipe holder | KFC |
| Recipe creation date | 1940 |
| Chicken preparation | Dipped in water for 7 seconds, dried for 7 seconds, rolled in the mixture 7 times before frying |
| Chicken frying method | Pressure fryer |
| Oil used for frying | Vegetable oil |
| Oil temperature | 350 °F (177 °C) |
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What You'll Learn
KFC's 11 herbs and spices is a closely guarded secret
KFC's blend of 11 herbs and spices is one of the most famous trade secrets in the catering industry. The recipe is so closely guarded that KFC denies the authenticity of any claimed leaks. In 2016, a Chicago Tribune article revealed that Joe Ledington, a nephew of Colonel Sanders by marriage, had found a copy of the original KFC fried chicken recipe in a family scrapbook. The Tribune conducted a cooking test of this recipe, but it did not taste the same as KFC's chicken.
In 2008, KFC beefed up security around the vault containing the Colonel's handwritten recipe, using a Brink's armoured truck and a briefcase marked "Top Secret". The recipe is not patented, as patents are published in detail and expire after a certain period, whereas trade secrets can remain the intellectual property of their holders forever.
Only two people at KFC know the secret recipe, and they are not allowed to travel together on the same plane or in the same car for security reasons. The recipe is shipped to restaurants already mixed to preserve its secrecy.
While the exact recipe remains a mystery, some details have been revealed over the years. Winston Shelton, a former friend of Sanders, said that the recipe contains Tellicherry black pepper. Sanders' former secretary, Shirley Topmiller, revealed that Sanders learned from his mother that sage and savory are good seasonings for chicken.
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The recipe was created by Colonel Sanders in the 1930s
The recipe for KFC chicken is one of the most famous trade secrets in the catering industry. It was created by Colonel Harland Sanders in the 1930s. By the late 1930s, Sanders' Corbin, Kentucky gas station was so well-known for its fried chicken that he decided to build a restaurant and motel in its place.
Sanders' Original Recipe of "11 herbs and spices" is said to be one of the company's most valuable assets. The recipe is not patented, as patents are published and come with an expiration date, whereas trade secrets can remain the intellectual property of their holders indefinitely. In 1939, Sanders discovered that using a pressure fryer produced tasty, moist chicken in eight or nine minutes. By July 1940, he had finalized what came to be known as his Original Recipe.
In August 2016, the Chicago Tribune reported that Joe Ledington of Kentucky, a nephew of Colonel Sanders by marriage, had claimed to have found a copy of the original KFC fried chicken recipe. Tribune staffers conducted a cooking test of this recipe, which took several attempts to get right. They had to determine whether the "'Ts'" in the recipe meant tablespoons or teaspoons. If tablespoons, the resulting mix would be 32% spice and 68% breading. If teaspoons, the mix would be 12.5% spice and 87.5% breading.
While KFC denies that this recipe is authentic, it has been taste-tested and compared to the KFC restaurant's chicken, and is said to be spot on.
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It's one of the best-kept secrets in the catering industry
The KFC Original Recipe is a closely guarded secret mix of 11 herbs and spices. It is one of the most famous trade secrets in the catering industry and has been described as one of the company's most valuable assets. The recipe is not patented, but instead kept as a trade secret so that it can remain the intellectual property of KFC in perpetuity.
The recipe was created by Harland "Colonel" Sanders, who in the late 1930s, was known for his fried chicken served at his gas station in Corbin, Kentucky. In 1939, he found that using a pressure fryer produced tasty, moist chicken in eight or nine minutes. By July 1940, Sanders finalized what came to be known as his Original Recipe.
In August 2016, the Chicago Tribune reported that Joe Ledington of Kentucky, a nephew by marriage of Colonel Sanders, had claimed to have found a copy of the original KFC fried chicken recipe. Tribune staffers conducted a cooking test of this recipe, which took several attempts to get right. They had to determine whether the "'Ts'" in the recipe meant tablespoons or teaspoons. If tablespoons, the resulting mix would be 32% spice and 68% breading. If teaspoons, the mix would be 12.5% spice and 87.5% breading.
Despite the recipe being revealed, KFC denies its authenticity. The recipe is one of the best-kept secrets in the catering industry, and KFC isn't keen on letting the secret slip anytime soon.
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The recipe was reportedly leaked in 2016 by a relative of Colonel Sanders
The recipe for KFC's blend of 11 herbs and spices has long been a closely guarded secret. However, in 2016, a relative of Colonel Harland Sanders claimed to have leaked the original recipe. Joe Ledington, a nephew by marriage of Colonel Sanders, said he found the recipe written by hand on a piece of paper in an envelope in a scrapbook. The scrapbook had reportedly been passed down through the Sanders family since the death of Colonel Sanders' wife, Claudia, in 1997. Ledington expressed some uncertainty about whether the recipe was the original, but he recalled mixing the Original Recipe for Colonel Sanders as a young boy and confirmed that white pepper was a principal ingredient.
Staffers at the Chicago Tribune, where the recipe was first published, conducted a cooking test. They had to determine whether "Ts" in the recipe referred to tablespoons or teaspoons. If tablespoons, the resulting mix would be 32% spice and 68% breading. If teaspoons, the mix would be 12.5% spice and 87.5% breading. After some experimentation, 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. The Tribune reported that the chicken they produced tasted "indistinguishable" from KFC's product.
The list of 11 herbs and spices was reportedly jotted down on the back of Claudia Sanders' will. Colonel Sanders himself once claimed that the ingredients "stand on everybody's shelf". The ingredients listed in the recipe are:
- Salt
- Origino
- Celery salt
- Black pepper
- Dried mustard
- Paprika
- Garlic salt
- Ground ginger
- White pepper
- Sage
- Coriander
- Red pepper
- Allspice
While KFC has never confirmed the authenticity of the leaked recipe, it has been subject to numerous lawsuits over the years from former franchisees and spice producers claiming to have knowledge of the recipe. In 1982, KFC sued Marion-Kay Spices, the producer of the 99-X spice blend, for selling its mixture to KFC franchisees. Following the lawsuit, the 99-X recipe was altered to include sage and coriander, which were reportedly part of the original 11 herbs and spices used by Colonel Sanders.
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KFC denies the recipe is authentic
The KFC Original Recipe is a closely guarded secret, with the company stating it is "one of the biggest trade secrets in the world". The recipe, a blend of 11 herbs and spices, is said to be locked in a digital safe encased in two feet of concrete and monitored 24 hours a day. Only a few people are reported to know the recipe, and they are not allowed to travel together for security reasons.
In 2016, a Chicago Tribune reporter claimed to have inadvertently been given the original recipe by Joe Ledington, the nephew of KFC founder Colonel Harland David Sanders. The recipe was written on the back of the last will and testament of Sanders' second wife, Claudia Ledington. It included a list of 11 herbs and spices to be mixed with two cups of white flour. The Tribune staffers conducted a cooking test, and while they found the recipe challenging, they decided the chicken should be soaked in buttermilk, coated in the breading mixture, and fried in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) in a pressure fryer. They claimed that with the addition of MSG, the taste was indistinguishable from KFC fried chicken.
However, KFC has denied that the published recipe is authentic. In a statement, the company said, "Many people have made these claims over the years and no one has been accurate — this one isn't either." The debate continues, with some people trying the recipe and finding it lacking, while others claim that the original recipe included more herbs and spices.
While the exact recipe remains a mystery, we do know a bit about how the chicken is prepared. Each piece is dipped in water for seven seconds, dried for seven seconds, rolled seven times in the spice mixture, and then fried. This process ensures a consistent and delicious taste that has made KFC famous worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
KFC's blend of herbs and spices is a closely guarded secret, but it is believed that there are 11 herbs and spices in the recipe.
In 2016, it was reported that Joe Ledington, a relative of Colonel Sanders, had found the original recipe. However, KFC denied that the recipe was authentic.
The exact blend is a closely guarded secret, but it is believed to include salt, pepper, sage, savory, and Tellicherry black pepper.
The secrecy of the recipe has been paramount for KFC, as it is one of the company's most valuable assets. By keeping the recipe a secret, KFC has created a powerful marketing tool that has generated a lot of interest and curiosity.
To make KFC chicken at home, you can follow a copycat recipe that uses a blend of herbs and spices. The chicken is typically soaked in buttermilk, coated in a spice mixture, and then fried in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) until golden brown.
