# Homemade versions of fast foods **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [March 15, 2023, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-versions-of-fast-foods/981202 "2023-03-15T05:56:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2023, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-versions-of-fast-foods/981202/21 "2023-03-16T03:46:45Z")
> [@Didi44](#): > > I’ll give it a try, but the breading looks a little thick. This the main issue I’ve found with substitutes.The Filet-O-Fish is lightly, almost too lightly breaded and never really crunchy, even when fresh. BTW, the Van de Kamp fish filets come in three versions, labeled “Crispy”, “Crunchy”, and “Battered” so one of them might suit you. Personally I can never remembered what the difference is between the first two (the type of bread crumbs, maybe?) but I like the Battered ones more in any case, so… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2023, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-versions-of-fast-foods/981202/22 "2023-03-16T03:48:28Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever tried to copy fast food. I made Tommy’s chili sauce so I could make my own Tommy burgers. It actually made homemade Wienerschnitzel Chili Cheese Dogs better. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2023, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-versions-of-fast-foods/981202/23 "2023-03-16T05:01:58Z")
I used to do that. The round fish sticks are better. But again, nothing I’ve found matches that too light, slightly soggy filet of the real thing! ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2023, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-versions-of-fast-foods/981202/24 "2023-03-16T05:05:22Z")
Ahhh…good to know. Next trip to the market I’ll look for the battered ones. The closest I’ve come is to take half the breading off a filet. But then that still leaves the over soft and airy bun. Arrgghhhh…darn you McD’s. So simply plain, yet so good! BTW, the double Filet-O-Fish doesn’t cut it for me either. Too much filet, not enough bun vs somewhat too much bun ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-versions-of-fast-foods/981202/25 "2023-03-16T19:32:12Z")
The last filet o fish I had, it was pale, flabby, and cold. Very disappointing. Gorton’s beer battered, or frozen breaded are hardly cheaper and a bit of work, but much tastier. And the tartar sauce makes it or breaks it. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-versions-of-fast-foods/981202/26 "2023-03-16T21:02:57Z")
Todd Wilbur has published numerous cookbooks with copycat recipes from famous restaurants. His website is here: > **[Todd Wilbur's Top Secret Recipes](https://topsecretrecipes.com/)** > > For over 30 years I've been deconstructing America's most iconic brand-name foods to make the best original clone recipes for you to use at home. Welcome to my lab. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-versions-of-fast-foods/981202/27 "2023-03-25T00:46:40Z")
I have a cheap small cast iron skillet I found at Savors which is about the right size for muffin (3-4 in). Also, I’m fancy, I use Bay’s Sourdough muffins for texture ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-versions-of-fast-foods/981202/28 "2023-03-25T01:34:14Z")
Joshua Weissman has a great copycat fast food (and more) YouTube channel. We binge it from time to time. Usually he puts in way more time/effort than I’d want to, but his results are pretty impressive and he’s really charming. (He does a filet-o-fish episode) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-versions-of-fast-foods/981202/29 "2023-03-29T14:09:26Z")
I’ve had good results copying their “tangy BBQ sauce” with Heinz ketchup and Heinz Original Sweet & Thick BBQ sauce, about a 3:1 ratio. A lot of other recipes for it online call for Kraft or Sweet Baby Ray’s, but I’ve tried those and they’re just not right. I’m certain it’s Heinz all the way. I’ve done blind side-by-side comparisons with my stuff and the real stuff and about two dozen friends and family and at least one complete stranger couldn’t tell them apart. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-versions-of-fast-foods/981202.md?page=1)