KFC is opening its door to show fans how to make its perfectly crispy fried chicken at home. For 3000 lucky customers in the UK, they’ll learn the steps that go into creating its famous burgers and on-the-bone pieces of fried chicken. The only thing Colonel Sanders won’t be sharing… his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices.
Step 1 Prep, prep, prep
The first step is to get the right pieces of chicken for frying. KFC uses raw on-the-bone chicken thighs, drumsticks and wings, as well as rib and keel pieces in its buckets (although these are harder to come by in the supermarket). KFC fries up 2,000 pieces of chicken per restaurant every day but you’ll probably only need about four to six pieces per person.
Step 2 Mix your flour and spices
While KFC won’t be revealing its famous secret herb and spices blend (not even the staff know – it’s locked away in a secret vault in the US), you can use our not-so-secret blend. The spices are mixed into flour which coats the chicken and becomes the crispy batter.
Step 3 Batter up
KFC has a very specific way of coating its chicken. First, fill a large tray or bowl with the flour and spice mix, then toss the raw chicken through it.Next, scoop the flour underneath the chicken, then fold it over, so the mix really sticks to the chicken.
Step 4 Shake it off
Gently shake every piece of chicken to get rid of excess flour and spice mix. Next, tap two chicken pieces together, without letting the meat touch. To do this, knock your thumbs together while holding the chicken. If you’re frying drumsticks you’ll need to double coat them, then use KFC’s frying tip to make sure the skin is crispy: hold them at the base and twist the skin upwards to release any trapped air.
Step 5 Come on baby light by fry
If you’re a healthy eater, look away now. KFC deep fries its chicken for 15 minutes and then drains the oil off for another five minutes – 20 minutes in total. If you don’t have a deep fryer, heat up plenty of oil in a large saucepan and do it that way.
Craving KFC now? Try our version of KFC’s fried chicken.
Our best fried chicken recipes:
See more:
FAQs
Pressure fryers allow the exterior of the chicken to get extra crispy, yet at the same time, it also creates meat that's ultra juicy and succulent inside. Pressure fryers can also fry chicken extremely fast, which allows KFC to cook big batches to keep up with customer demand.
What is Colonel Sanders' recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken? ›
ingredients
- 2 packages dried Italian salad dressing mix.
- 3 tablespoons flour.
- 2 teaspoons salt.
- 1 dash black pepper.
- 1⁄4 cup lemon juice.
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
- 2 1⁄2 - 3 lbs broiler-fryer chicken pieces.
- 2 cups carbonated soda water.
Mix things up a little. It makes sense to keep a “wet hand” and a “dry hand” when breading chicken for frying. However, a little mixing of the two actually makes your fried chicken crispier, says Fontana. Take your wet hand, dip it into your buttermilk and hold it over your flour to let it drip into the mixture.
What are the ingredients for crispy fried chicken? ›
Does KFC have a secret formula? ›
The KFC Original Recipe is a secret mix of ingredients that fast food restaurant chain KFC uses to produce fried chicken.
Does KFC still do secret menus? ›
How do I access the KFC hidden menu? To discover all their secret dishes, you simply need to download the KFC app, swipe down on the main menu and hold for 11 seconds. An animated Colonel Sanders then reveals the hidden menu.
How to access the KFC secret menu in 2024? ›
To access the secret menu on the KFC app, pull down the menu page for 11 seconds. till you get the red bar. Click it and you're ready to order.
Why won't my fried chicken get crispy? ›
If your oil temp is too high, your fried chicken will be scorched on the outside with meat that is undercooked. If the oil is too cool, your chicken will be greasy and will lack the golden-brown crispy exterior you want.
What oil do KFC use? ›
KFC products are fried in oil which may contain the following: Canola Oil and Hydrogenated Soybean Oil with TBHQ and Citric Acid Added To Protect Flavor, Dimethylpolysiloxane, an Antifoaming Agent Added OR Low Linolenic Soybean Oil, TBHQ, and Citric Ac...
What keeps fried chicken crispy? ›
Proper cooling sets the crust and ensures that the chicken will have done all its carryover cooking. I like to cool any leftover chicken completely and then store in a paper towel-lined airtight container in the fridge. The paper towel absorbs condensation and keeps that chicken crisp for midnight snacking.
And finally, equipment also plays a role in cracking the code on that KFC-style fried chicken crispiness. The texture we all love and crave is largely due to their method of cooking: a high-temperature, industrial-strength pressure fryer.
Does KFC deep fry or bake their chicken? ›
KFC deep fries its chicken for 15 minutes and then drains the oil off for another five minutes – 20 minutes in total. If you don't have a deep fryer, heat up plenty of oil in a large saucepan and do it that way.
What makes KFC chicken so tender? ›
Finally, the chicken is fried in "Pressure Fryers" which are industrial cooking equipment that no home cook could or should get their hands on. Essentially it rapidly fries and tenderises the meat, so that they can pump out heaps of fried chicken as fast and as tender as possible.
Is KFC deep fried or baked? ›
KFC deep fries its chicken for 15 minutes and then drains the oil off for another five minutes – 20 minutes in total. If you don't have a deep fryer, heat up plenty of oil in a large saucepan and do it that way.
What is KFC chicken coating made of? ›
What is the KFC secret recipe? According to the Chicago Tribune, the original recipe consists of 11 herbs and spices, including: salt, thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, black pepper, dried mustard, paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger, and white pepper.
How does KFC make sure their chicken is cooked? ›
Pressure frying: KFC uses pressure fryers to cook their chicken. Pressure frying allows for faster cooking times compared to traditional open fryers. The pressure helps to seal in moisture and cook the chicken evenly and quickly.
How do restaurants get their chicken so crispy? ›
Restaurants often achieve juicy and tender fried chicken with a crispy exterior through a combination of techniques such as marinating the chicken in buttermilk or brine, using a seasoned flour or breading mixture, and deep-frying at the right temperature.
