Does anyone know why the little packages of ketchup at fast food restaurants are so small? Today, I spent a good five minutes opening eight of the little buggers to get enough ketchup for my french fries. I have never seen anyone use only one so why don’t they make them bigger? Is it cheaper to make them that way or is there another logical reason?
I think folks like us that drown our fries/chips/tater tots in that wonderful red gold …that doesn’t sound right but… are just unlucky to be outside the bell curve on the ketchup quantity issue.
I think it’s a standard size for condiments like mustard, mayo, duck sauce, relish, soy sauce. For the thick sauces, I think it’s supposed to be one sandwich’s-worth. But for dipping, you definately need more. It’s just not worth the time to package ketchup in two different sizes.
The package is probably at an optimal size for not rupturing during transport. You can fold them in half (gently, across the short width) and they’ll stay intact. And they don’t fold in half the long way, at least not just being jostled around.
I only use 2 packets for a large fry. Sure, a double size would be good…but I can’t understand saturation with ketchup. My brother-in-law does it with EVERYTHING…it’s so gross.
Jman
It’s a closely-guarded military secret, and if I told you, I’d have to kill you.
I like the chains that are going to the pump. Except, have you ever had one squirt ketchup all over you? That happened to me when I was eating before a business meeting. Yikes!
Let me share with you a little technique I’ve been working on.
[ul]
[li]First take multiple ketchup packets (up to four, but works best with two) and stack them squarely on top of each other.[/li][li]Squish the tops of the packets to push the ketchup into the bottom half.[/li][li]Carefully tear off a corner of the stacked packets.[/li][li]Turn packets over (from top to bottom, not left to right)[/li][li]Squish ketchup onto McDonalds paper tray place mat.[/li][li]Enjoy copious amounts of the red gold.[/li][/ul]
When you become experienced at this, add extra packets as your skill allows.
This begs the question… Do you just tear a condiment packet down the side, or do you completely remove a corner of the packet? Personally, I like to remove the whole corner, it seems much ‘cleaner’ that way. I hate it when I see someone just open a ketchup packet all willy nilly, and get ketchup on the part of the packet they tore, but didn’t quite remove. Ick.
Re: opening ketchup packets.
I always tear a whole corner. If it’s just a rip, a good portion of the ketchup just ends up in the little crevice of the rip, and I hate that. And, I even tear it along the little indicator lines. My obssesive compulsive disorder is getting the best of me, I know.
Caution is to be exercised during the packet-opening process. Opening the packet at an excessively high rate poses a risk of ketchup/clothing contact. Said incident may result in expletives and inappropriate gestures.
I think this board owes Enright a thank-you! Personally, I don’t use more than three packets, and that’s if I’m feeling randy. But for those of you that use a lot of ketchup (god bless ya), his Four-Packets-One-Tear technique seems right on the money.
Thanks, Enright! You’re my hero!
I’m glad I was there for you, man!
By the way, what’s up with the PLASTIC ketchup containers? You know, the ones that look like their supposed to hold individual servings of grape jelly.
Maybe someday I’ll tell you the real life story of the boyfriend (me) who ‘acted like’ he was going to squirt ketchup on girlfriends (no my wife of 18 years) white pants. Then I’ll tell you about how the packet really did pop open! Finally, I’ll tell you this great story of a VERY mad girlfriend. Wackiness ensued, you can be sure of that!
Love the sig, Enright! But you’ve got it misspelled…
As far as tearing goes, I think that ideally the smaller the hole, the better job you’ve done, cuz you can squeeze nearly the entire contents out. I have a habit of ripping the entire side of the packet open, thus wasting a lot that I can’t get out…which then means I have to open even more than usual. I’m usually ripping through 6 or 7 packets to satisfy the ketchup hound within.
Hey, did anyone catch that one episode of Guiness: World Records where some dude sucked nearly a whole bottle of ketchup in like 30 seconds? Now THAT is a guy who likes his ketchup.
Nope. Fries too big.
I always avoided the problem by not eating ketchup. 
What’s misspelled, Connor? I don’t see anything misspelled. (damnit!)
I guy I used to work with when I was beer Vendor at Texas Rangers games used to put Mayo on hotdogs! Ugh! What’s up with that?
Yeah, but don’t you hate it when you tear off a corner that’s too small? Then it’s like you’re squirting a laser beam of ketchup, and it’s direction is uncontrollable!
Put that ketchup packet down, Right Now! You could put someone’s eye out!
Agreed, “the pinhole effect” can have very dangerous results.
::gagging:: As if accomplishing this feat wasn’t enough, he felt the need to polish it off in 30 seconds.
Now if he can do this with a jar of Hellman’s…
- Known as Best Foods Real Mayonaisse west of the Rockies
Here in all the fast food restaurants the Ketchup is on draft.
You get a little paper container and pump a little tap and take all the k you want.
Apparently its a lot more environmentally friendly. Although you wanna be careful when the bag of ketchup is low because you pump the tap and get a blow back when it mixes with air decorating everything youre wearing in a most efficient manner.