Lucas Delgado
KFC's Original Recipe is a closely guarded secret, with the original handwritten recipe kept in a vault at KFC's headquarters in Louisville. The recipe is a mix of 11 herbs and spices, and it is one of the most famous trade secrets in the catering industry. KFC has employed various companies to contribute different ingredients to the recipe, so not even they know the full recipe. In 2016, a reporter was shown a handwritten recipe from a Sanders family scrapbook, which included salt, celery salt, black pepper, dried mustard, paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger, and white pepper.
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What You'll Learn
KFC's secret recipe
In 2016, a Chicago Tribune reporter was shown a handwritten recipe from a Sanders family scrapbook, which is believed to be the original recipe. The recipe, which is mixed with 2 cups of flour, includes: 2/3 tablespoons of salt, 1/3 tablespoon of origino, 1 tablespoon of celery salt, 1 tablespoon of black pepper, 1 tablespoon of dried mustard, 4 tablespoons of paprika, 2 tablespoons of garlic salt, 1 tablespoon of ground ginger, and 3 tablespoons of white pepper.
Some people have tried to recreate the recipe at home, with some success. One key step in the process is to soak the chicken in buttermilk before coating it in the breading mixture and frying it in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) in a pressure fryer until golden brown.
While the exact recipe remains a closely guarded secret, KFC's chicken is known for its unique blend of herbs and spices, crispy skin, and juicy meat. The recipe has become one of the most famous trade secrets in the catering industry, with many people trying to replicate it at home or create their own versions.
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How to make KFC-style chicken at home
KFC's blend of 11 herbs and spices is a closely guarded secret, but that doesn't mean you can't make your own version of their fried chicken at home. Here's a guide on how to make KFC-style chicken in your kitchen.
Ingredients
First, gather your ingredients. For the chicken, you'll need:
- Chicken breasts or thighs
- Buttermilk
- Eggs
For the breading, you'll need:
- Flour
- Salt
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Black pepper
- Celery salt
- Dried mustard
- Paprika
- Garlic salt
- Ground ginger
- White pepper
- Herbs and spices of your choice (e.g. basil, oregano, thyme, onion powder, sage, savory)
Preparation
Start by cutting the chicken into your desired size. Next, prepare a marinade by whisking together the buttermilk and egg in a large bowl until well combined. Add the chicken pieces to this mixture and let them marinate for at least 20 to 30 minutes. You can also leave it overnight in the refrigerator for extra juicy chicken.
While the chicken is marinating, prepare the breading mixture. Combine the flour with the herbs and spices in a separate large bowl. You can adjust the amounts of each ingredient to suit your taste preferences. Mix everything together and set it aside.
Cooking
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with aluminium foil and place an oven-safe wire cooling rack inside. In a large Dutch oven or deep fryer, heat about 3 inches of vegetable oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a deep-frying thermometer to check the temperature.
Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade, allowing any excess to drip off. Coat each piece of chicken in the breading mixture, shaking off any excess. Carefully place the coated chicken pieces into the hot oil and fry until golden brown. If using a Dutch oven, you may need to fry the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding.
Alternatively, you can bake the chicken in the oven. After coating the chicken with the breading mixture, place it on the prepared baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until cooked through and crispy.
Your KFC-style chicken is now ready to be enjoyed! Serve it with your favourite sides and dips for a delicious, finger-lickin' good meal.
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The role of buttermilk in KFC's recipe
The exact blend of 11 herbs and spices used in KFC's recipe is a closely guarded secret. However, we do know that the chicken is soaked in buttermilk before being coated in the breading mixture and fried.
Buttermilk is a key ingredient in KFC's recipe, as it helps to tenderize the meat and add moisture, resulting in juicy and flavorful chicken. The acid in buttermilk also helps to break down the proteins in the meat, making it more tender. In addition, the buttermilk provides a base for the breading to stick to, ensuring a crispy and flavorful crust.
To replicate KFC's recipe at home, it is recommended to soak the chicken in buttermilk for at least 20 to 30 minutes, or even overnight for more intense flavor. The buttermilk can be whisked with an egg to create an even stronger structure for the breading to adhere to.
After soaking the chicken in buttermilk, it is then coated in a breading mixture, which typically includes flour and a blend of herbs and spices. The chicken is then fried in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) until golden brown.
While the exact blend of herbs and spices remains a secret, it is believed to include ingredients such as salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic, and sage. Some sources suggest that the recipe also contains monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a flavor enhancer, though this is not confirmed.
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KFC's Original Recipe Chicken
The original, handwritten recipe is kept in a vault at KFC's headquarters in Louisville. The company employs various suppliers to contribute different ingredients, so not even they know the full recipe. KFC ships the spices already mixed to its restaurants to preserve the secrecy. The recipe is not patented, as patents are published and have an expiration date, whereas trade secrets can remain the intellectual property of their holders forever.
In 2016, a Chicago Tribune reporter was shown a recipe from a Sanders family scrapbook. Joe Ledington, Colonel Sanders' nephew, gave the recipe to the reporter. Tribune staffers conducted a cooking test, but they had to determine whether "Ts" meant tablespoons or teaspoons. If tablespoons, the mix would be 32% spice and 68% breading. If teaspoons, it would be 12.5% spice and 87.5% breading. The recipe includes:
- Salt
- Origino
- Celory Salt
- Black pepper
- Dried mustard
- Paprika
- Garlic salt
- Ground ginger
- White pepper
In 1983, William Poundstone examined a sample of KFC's coating mix and claimed it contained only flour, salt, monosodium glutamate, and black pepper. However, KFC maintains that it adheres to Sanders' original 1940 recipe. The recipe is believed to include sage and savory, as Sanders learned from his mother that these were good seasonings for chicken. Winston Shelton, a former friend of Sanders, confirmed that the recipe contains Tellicherry black pepper.
To replicate KFC's Original Recipe Chicken, coat the chicken in dredging flour with seasoning, then shake off the excess, and repeat the process six more times. KFC soaks its chicken in buttermilk and coats it in the breading mixture before frying it in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) in a pressure fryer. The chain uses vegetable oil, but some outlets have switched to a blend of palm and soybean oil for economic reasons. KFC Japan uses cottonseed and corn oil, believing they offer superior taste.
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KFC's use of pressure fryers
KFC's Original Recipe is a closely guarded secret, with the original handwritten recipe kept securely inside a vault at KFC's headquarters in Louisville. The recipe is a mix of 11 herbs and spices, which is combined with 2 cups of flour to create the iconic KFC breading. The recipe is not patented, as patents are published and come with an expiration date, whereas trade secrets can be kept indefinitely. KFC has employed various companies to contribute different ingredients to the recipe, so not even they know the full recipe.
KFC uses pressure fryers to cook their chicken. The use of pressure fryers significantly reduces cooking time, with chicken that would take 20-25 minutes in an open fryer only taking 5-6 minutes in a pressure fryer. This reduced cooking time also saves on labor costs. The pressure fryer also seals in the chicken's juices, creating a more flavorful piece of chicken while minimizing grease absorption.
Colonel Harland Sanders opened a popular roadside motel, restaurant, and service station in Corbin, Kentucky, in 1930. He served classic Southern dishes, including fried chicken. In 1939, he found that using a pressure fryer produced tasty, moist chicken in eight or nine minutes. By July 1940, he had finalized his Original Recipe, and in the 1950s, he partnered with Pete Harman to market the chicken as Kentucky Fried Chicken. Sanders opened about 600 KFC franchises before selling his company in 1964.
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Frequently asked questions
KFC's seasoning recipe is a closely guarded secret, but we do know that it's a mix of 11 herbs and spices. The original recipe is kept in a vault at KFC's headquarters in Louisville.
While the exact blend is a secret, some of the ingredients are thought to include salt, monosodium glutamate (MSG), black pepper, paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger, and white pepper.
Each piece of chicken is dipped in water for seven seconds, dried for seven seconds, and then rolled in the seasoning mixture seven times before frying. The chicken is fried in a pressure fryer, which gives it a crispy skin.
Yes, there are many copycat KFC seasoning recipes available online that you can use to make fried chicken at home. These recipes typically include a blend of herbs and spices mixed with flour and other ingredients.
