KFC's secret recipe, handwritten by Colonel Sanders, remains highly guarded but is widely believed to contain 11 herbs and spices mixed with flour, including salt, thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, black pepper, dried mustard, paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger, and white pepper, with MSG often cited as a key flavor enhancer. The true mystery lies in the exact proportions, with some sources pointing to a leaked list of measurements, while KFC itself splits the production between two suppliers to maintain secrecy.
Colonel Sanders' 11 secret herbs and spices are salt, dried thyme leaves, dried basil leaves, dried oregano leaves, celery salt, ground black pepper, dried mustard, paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger and ground white pepper. To adhere the coating to the chicken, you'll also need flour and a buttermilk and egg mixture.
The KFC Original Recipe is a secret mix of ingredients that fast food restaurant chain KFC uses to produce fried chicken. The Claudia Sanders Dinner House is the only other restaurant that serves an authorized version of the recipe.
KFC's 7-Minute Policy, primarily in India, is an Express Pick-up service promising orders ready in 7 minutes or less for app/kiosk orders, with a free piece of chicken if they fail, ensuring speed and signature taste, but it's a limited-time offer or specific to certain locations/promotions. It's part of KFC's focus on quick, convenient service, backed by safety measures during its launch, and relies on customers showing the confirmation SMS to claim the offer.
KFC uses pressure fryers to keep their chicken moist as it cooks, but a buttermilk marinade can contribute a similar effect. The buttermilk has the added benefit of tenderizing the meat, and adding an egg to the mix creates a stronger structure for the breading to stick to later.
Kentucky Air Fried Chicken: 11 secret herbs and spices: 1 tsp Salt, 1 tsp Black Pepper, 2 tsp White Pepper, 1 tsp Celery Salt, 1 tsp Dried Basil, 1 tsp Dried Thyme, 2 tsp Garlic Powder, 1 tsp Dried Oregano, 1 tsp Mustard Powder, 1 tbsp Paprika, 1 tsp Powdered Ginger, 1 tbsp Baking Powder, 1 cup of flour.
The unhealthiest KFC item varies, but often includes high-calorie, high-fat options like the Family Potato Salad (over 1,200 calories/serving) or the Famous Bowl (around 710 calories), while large fried chicken pieces or loaded burgers (like the Zinger Tower) also rank high for fat and sodium, though chicken skin itself has unsaturated fats, making preparation key.
USDA recommends using cooked chicken within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth.
KFC has arguably the most famous secret recipe in the world, and so we set out to celebrate the 11 herbs & spices in a unique way. Our idea was simple: hide an Easter egg in KFC's Twitter account by following only 11 people—six guys named Herb and all five Spice Girls.
The chicken on the bone is then tossed exactly seven times, in order to retain the perfect amount of moisture, before being tipped into a huge tray of KFC's esteemed Original Recipe coating. They are then covered 10 times.
According to the recipe, which is called 11 Spices, the top-secret ingredients (and measurements) include:
To get the KFC secret menu, open the KFC app, go to the menu, then pull down and hold your finger on the screen for several seconds (around 11) until a hidden option appears and unlocks the secret menu with special items like the Nugget Slider or Kentucky Snack Pack. Availability and specific items vary by region, but this "pull-to-reveal" trick is the standard way to find it.
The full $5 Bowl lineup includes: Matty's Cheesy Nuggy Gravy Bowl: Fries, brown gravy, crispy chicken nuggets, and coated cheese curds. Mac & Cheese Bowl: Homestyle mac & cheese topped with crispy chicken nuggets and a three-cheese blend.
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The dishes of KFC are mostly deep-fried and are made using tons of oil. So, the regular consumption of KFC can make you gain weight. Therefore, continuous consumption of fast food, chicken, and meat that too with excess oil can lead to heart and fat-related issues.
KFC primarily uses a blend of oils, with a major shift in the U.S. to low-linolenic soybean oil to eliminate trans fats, while regions like Australia use high oleic canola oil for its stability and health profile, though specific oil types can vary by country and even franchise, sometimes incorporating palm/soybean blends, but generally favoring vegetable-based oils for flavor and consistency.
KFC's 7-Minute Policy, primarily in India, is an Express Pick-up service promising orders ready in 7 minutes or less for app/kiosk orders, with a free piece of chicken if they fail, ensuring speed and signature taste, but it's a limited-time offer or specific to certain locations/promotions. It's part of KFC's focus on quick, convenient service, backed by safety measures during its launch, and relies on customers showing the confirmation SMS to claim the offer.
They used to fry their chicken in lard using the Colonel's 11 herbs and spices. Now they fry it in vegetable oil with a much smaller amount of the 11 herbs and spices, enough to still make a valid claim that it still contains the herbs and spices, but not enough to affect the taste. Used to be a dream.
Raising Cane's: Billionaire's KFC rival and TikTok sensation to open in the UK. Raising Cane's was founded in 1996 and has more than 950 locations across the US and Middle East.
It is good news because yes, you can reheat KFC. If you realise that you have way too much chicken in your bucket, simply put it in a container and store it in your fridge. As long as your takeaway is stored the right way, it is safe to reheat it the next day.
The healthiest item on the KFC menu is the Grilled Chicken Breast. It's high in protein, low in saturated fat, and contains fewer calories compared to fried options. Pair it with green beans or corn on the cob and water for a balanced meal under 500 calories.
To tell if chicken is bad, check for a sour or ammonia-like smell, a slimy/sticky texture (fresh is moist and slightly slippery), or a gray/greenish discoloration, as any of these mean it's spoiled and should be discarded, especially if it's past its use-by date or left unrefrigerated too long. When in doubt, always throw it out to avoid foodborne illness, say experts from Healthline and Food Network.
Can you eat KFC with diabetes? KFC is a fast food option that is high in saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium. If eaten, keep portions small and add non starchy vegetables to balance the meal and help with better blood sugar control.
Fries. The crunch of deep-fried potatoes can be hard to resist, but adding a side of fries to a meal already high in sodium, calories, and unhealthy fats can be overkill. A side of large fries contains 840 calories, 40g of fat, and 108g of carbs, making it the least healthy side on the KFC menu.
The healthiest fast food options focus on grilled protein, lots of vegetables, and whole grains, found in places like Chipotle (veggie/bean bowls), Subway (Turkey Breast & Ham), Chick-fil-A (grilled nuggets/sandwich), Wendy's (grilled chicken wrap/chili/baked potato), and Taco Bell (Fresco-style tacos/burritos), emphasizing customization to swap sauces, cheese, and fried items for healthier alternatives like salsa, avocado, and salads.