# Is the KFC recipe really a secret? If so is it valuable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 4, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921 "2012-05-04T20:26:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Beekeeper)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/21 "2012-05-05T04:17:21Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > _secretive whisper_ > > Go to [Bojangles](http://www.bojangles.com/). Best fast-food fried chicken there is. None in Kansas. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2012, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/22 "2012-05-05T04:22:44Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Now I want Colonial Chicken. BSG meets MSG. Finger Frackin Good! ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2012, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/23 "2012-05-05T07:35:10Z")
> [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](#): > > None in Kansas. ☹ Next best is Popeyes - they have a Kansas location or two, plus many in KC, MO. Almost equal to Bojangles, and both are worlds better than KFC. If you can’t get to either - time to find a good local soul-food restaurant or fry your own 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2012, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/24 "2012-05-05T12:24:06Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > But why would anyone bother? Is Pepsi going to advertise “Pepsi tastes just like Coke!” Is Popeye’s going to say “Our chicken tastes just like KFC!” There would be no point. Hundreds of independent fast food places could maybe benefit from it though. A few people have said the recipe isn’t as good as it used to be. Any chance this is just a case of everything seeming better when you were younger, or is there good reason to think this is true? I’m normally sceptical when people say “it used to be better”. I don’t even know why I care about this, I’m vegetarian and I’ve never eaten KFC… ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2012, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/25 "2012-05-05T12:58:39Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > Hundreds of independent fast food places could maybe benefit from it though. Maybe they could or maybe they couldn’t. It’s tricky making factual claims in advertising while using competitors’ trademarks. You have to be very careful that you’re on solid ground. If you say “we use the same recipe as KFC used to,” KFC will come back and say, “How do you know that? We’ve never released our recipes to the public. That’s false advertising.” The recipe without the accompanying trademark is of little use. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/26 "2012-05-05T13:07:47Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > [Redirect Notice](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=kfc%20grilled%20chicken%20beef%20powder&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CG0QFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthemoderatevoice.com%2F36480%2Fkentucky-fried-beef%2F&ei=THekT4HZDIui8ATKrLSnAw&usg=AFQjCNGBOmqeSYitxHJNvl60vz5RkRDUcw) > > Well their ‘grilled chicken’ recipe ain’t a secret. :eek: Far worse than that for me is that it contains wheat. As someone who may have Celiac’s, it really bugs me when people add wheat to unnecessary things. KFC is the only fast food restaurannt I know of that puts wheat in everything whether it’s a necessary part of it or not. Though Taco Bell is close. They even put out a gluten free menu. It contains their soft drinks and condiments. > [@Bozuit](#): > > A few people have said the recipe isn’t as good as it used to be. Any chance this is just a case of everything seeming better when you were younger, or is there good reason to think this is true? I’m normally sceptical when people say “it used to be better”.. I don’t know for sure about the recipe, but I know the old cooking method is no longer used. And, as pointed out, the gravy is definitely different. > [@Acsenray](#): > > Maybe they could or maybe they couldn’t. It’s tricky making factual claims in advertising while using competitors’ trademarks. You have to be very careful that you’re on solid ground. If you say “we use the same recipe as KFC used to,” KFC will come back and say, “How do you know that? We’ve never released our recipes to the public. That’s false advertising.” The recipe without the accompanying trademark is of little use. Of course you wouldn’t say that. You say it “tastes like the colonel used to make.” Or even “Compare this to KFCs old recipe.” You know, the types of claims that current dupes make. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/27 "2012-05-06T00:03:44Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > But why would anyone bother? Is Pepsi going to advertise “Pepsi tastes just like Coke!” Is Popeye’s going to say “Our chicken tastes just like KFC!” There would be no point. > > _snip_ > > Coke isn’t going to lose significant market share to a generic soda that tastes like Coke. This is what I don’t understand. Millions of people by generic cola because it is cheaper, and it happens to taste like crap. If there was a company that advertised that they tasted just like coke, but were 30% cheaper. I would be all over that. I don’t see why people would NOT buy it. No one buys coke so their friends can see them carrying a coke can. It’s not like it is a status symbol or something. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/28 "2012-05-06T00:26:21Z")
Bizarre as it sounds, it _is_ a status symbol, or something very much like it. Most Coke drinkers, given a taste test, prefer Pepsi. They’re not drinking Coke because they like it, but because it’s a “classic”, or an “American tradition”, or the like. That’s why New Coke bombed so badly. ---
**Author:** ![Grateful-UnDead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ccd318/32.png) [@Grateful-UnDead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grateful-UnDead)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/29 "2012-05-06T01:23:53Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > This is what I don’t understand. Millions of people by generic cola because it is cheaper, and it happens to taste like crap. > > If there was a company that advertised that they tasted just like coke, but were 30% cheaper. I would be all over that. > > I don’t see why people would NOT buy it. No one buys coke so their friends can see them carrying a coke can. It’s not like it is a status symbol or something. Actually, there was a discussion on this very subject some time ago; unfortunately, my attempt at finding it and providing a link didn’t work. Can anyone else find it? While we are on the subject, does anyone have the recipe for “Kraft Golden Caesar Salad Dressing”? I was not impressed when they took it off the market!!! ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/30 "2012-05-06T01:26:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Bizarre as it sounds, it _is_ a status symbol, or something very much like it. Most Coke drinkers, given a taste test, prefer Pepsi. They’re not drinking Coke because they like it, but because it’s a “classic”, or an “American tradition”, or the like. That’s why New Coke bombed so badly. That makes my head hurt just thinking about it. Apparently people are dumber than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/31 "2012-05-06T02:52:01Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > Hundreds of independent fast food places could maybe benefit from it though. > > A few people have said the recipe isn’t as good as it used to be. Any chance this is just a case of everything seeming better when you were younger, or is there good reason to think this is true? I’m normally sceptical when people say “it used to be better”. > > I don’t even know why I care about this, I’m vegetarian and I’ve never eaten KFC… I’ve wondered the same thing. I swear KFC is nowhere near as good now as it was when I was a kid in the 70s-early 80s. I’ve never been sure if this was just a case of “everything was better when I was a kid.” ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/32 "2012-05-06T03:09:49Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Bizarre as it sounds, it _is_ a status symbol, or something very much like it. Most Coke drinkers, given a taste test, prefer Pepsi. They’re not drinking Coke because they like it, but because it’s a “classic”, or an “American tradition”, or the like. That’s why New Coke bombed so badly. Coca-Cola IS a status symbol. There were a number of songs by The Only Group That Matters (The Clash) that specifically mention it. Jones and Strummer didn’t write any songs about any generic colas (but they also didn’t know “Washington Bullets” was also the name of an NBA team). One theory why New Coke bombed despite doing well in taste tests (why why Pepsi does so well) is that in small samples people prefer the drinks with more sugar. But that doesn’t carry over with a lot of Coca-Cola drinkers if they are drinking more than a few sips. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/33 "2012-05-06T03:10:57Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Bizarre as it sounds, it _is_ a status symbol, or something very much like it. Most Coke drinkers, given a taste test, prefer Pepsi. They’re not drinking Coke because they like it, but because it’s a “classic”, or an “American tradition”, or the like. That’s why New Coke bombed so badly. The last time I took the Pepsi Taste Challenge (1988 or so), I was given a prize if I picked Pepsi and nothing if I picked Coca-Cola. So of course I picked Pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/34 "2012-05-06T03:57:04Z")
Believe me, die-hard Coke drinkers absolutely KNOW the difference between Coke and Pepsi, and prefer Coke. Period. When New Coke came out, I tried it. I told people if I wanted to drink RC, I’d drink RC. Given a choice between Coke and Pepsi, my husband will drink iced tea. I’ll take water. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/35 "2012-05-07T17:38:01Z")
I never understood why people who said they preferred Coke would pick Pepsi in a taste test. If Pepsi tastes better than Coke, then it also has to taste different than Coke. And if you think you like Coke more, why would you pick the one that doesn’t taste like Coke? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/36 "2012-05-07T17:51:07Z")
Taste can be contextual. As others have noted, in other studies, it shows that Pepsi comes out better when you’re just taking one sip, but for larger quantities, a lot of people find Pepsi too sweet-tasting. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/37 "2012-05-07T17:54:09Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Taste can be contextual. As others have noted, in other studies, it shows that Pepsi comes out better when you’re just taking one sip, but for larger quantities, a lot of people find Pepsi too sweet-tasting. I find that to be true of small portion food/drink competition taste testing in general. Stuff that I would call overly sweet or over-salted or just way too assertive seem to do well in contests where the judges get just a bite of each dish. When you only have one bite or sip to impress, it makes sense that something that packs it all into that portion would do well, versus something that actually still tastes good the whole meal or drink through. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/38 "2012-05-07T18:15:14Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I never understood why people who said they preferred Coke would pick Pepsi in a taste test. If Pepsi tastes better than Coke, then it also has to taste different than Coke. And if you think you like Coke more, why would you pick the one that doesn’t taste like Coke? Because they are very similar flavors, both based on ‘cola’ and many people have no sense of taste, just think that their chosen flavor is better. There is no substantial difference in brown bubbly swill, it isn’t like one has cocaine in it and the other doesn’t any further. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/39 "2012-05-07T18:26:21Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > Next best is Popeyes - they have a Kansas location or two, plus many in KC, MO. > > Almost equal to Bojangles, and both are worlds better than KFC. > > If you can’t get to either - time to find a good local soul-food restaurant or fry your own 😉 I’m gonna have to disgree and say that Church’s (crispy) is better than Popeyes…yummmmmmm. But hey, I also highly recommend having a side-by-side taste test. What a marvelous day full of fried chicken that would be. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/40 "2012-05-07T18:37:46Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > . > > The gravy used to be made with the seasoned flour used on the chicken. It was ethereal, absolutely worthy of the reverence Cartman gives it on South Park. > > NOW it’s beef gravy mix, 1/4 cup in one cup of water, simmer until thick. Nasty, nasty. The potatoes are instant. I recall an article years ago about the Colonial. He would personally inspect many of the franchises. Despite it being a fried chicken joint, apparently the thing he was most picky about and most places did wrong was the gravy. And if they failed they found out he was a cylon and he fracked their asses up. But seriously, the guy was apparently dead serious about doing the gravy right. And I too remember the chicken and especially the gravy being much better back in the good ole days. And god forbid he ever saw the crap in a bowl shit they came out with a handful of years back. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921.md?page=3)