🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 152 (from laksa069)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa152.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe","crawl_time":1774103031,"first_indexed_time":1431444648,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"org,wikipedia!en,\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe s443","src_root_hash":"17790707453426894952","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"KFC Original Recipe - Wikipedia","meta_descriptions":[],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\nKFC Original Recipe chicken\nThe\nKFC Original Recipe\nis a\nsecret mix\nof ingredients that\nfast food restaurant\nchain\nKFC\nuses to produce\nfried chicken\n. The\nClaudia Sanders Dinner House\nis the only other restaurant that serves an authorized version of the recipe.\nBy the very late 1930s,\nHarland Sanders\n'\ngas station\nin\nCorbin\n,\nKentucky\nwas so well known for its fried chicken that Sanders decided to remove the gas pumps and build a restaurant and motel in their place. While perfecting his secret recipe with 11 herbs and spices, Sanders found that\npan frying\nchicken was too slow, requiring 30 minutes per order. Deep frying the chicken required half the time but produced dry, unevenly done chicken. In 1939, he found that using a\npressure fryer\nproduced tasty, moist chicken in eight or nine minutes.\n[\n1\n]\nBy July 1940, Sanders finalized what came to be known as his Original Recipe.\n[\n2\n]\nAfter Sanders formed a partnership with\nPete Harman\n, they began marketing the chicken in the 1950s as\nKentucky Fried Chicken\n; the company shipped the spices already mixed to restaurants to preserve the recipe's secrecy.\n[\n1\n]\nHe claimed that the ingredients \"stand on everybody's shelf\".\n[\n3\n]\n[\n4\n]\nSanders used\nvegetable oil\nfor frying chicken. By 1993, for economic reasons, many KFC outlets had chosen to use a blend of palm and soybean oil. In Japan, the oil used is mainly the more expensive cottonseed and corn oil, as KFC Japan believes that this offers superior taste quality.\n[\n5\n]\nHistory\nSanders' Original Recipe of \"11 herbs and spices\" is one of the most famous\ntrade secrets\nin the catering industry.\n[\n6\n]\n[\n7\n]\nFranchisee\nDave Thomas\n, better known as the founder of\nWendy's\n, argued that the secret recipe concept was successful because \"everybody wants in on a secret\" and former KFC owner\nJohn Y. Brown, Jr.\ncalled it \"a brilliant marketing ploy.\"\n[\n8\n]\n[\n9\n]\nThe\nNew York Times\ndescribed the recipe as one of the company's most valuable assets.\n[\n6\n]\nThe recipe is not\npatented\n, because patents are published in detail and come with\nan expiration date\n, whereas trade secrets can remain the\nintellectual property\nof their holders in perpetuity.\n[\n10\n]\nKFC uses its Original Recipe as a means to differentiate its product from its competitors.\n[\n11\n]\nEarly franchisee\nPete Harman\ncredited the chain's popularity to the recipe and the product, and John Y. Brown cites the \"incredibly tasty, almost addictive\" product as the basis of KFC's staying power.\n[\n12\n]\nOn the other hand, Allen Adamson,\nmanaging director\nof brand consultancy\nLandor\n, remains unconvinced about the contribution of the secret formula aspect.\n[\n13\n]\nHe argues: \"The story may still be part of these companies' folklore, but I'd be surprised if more than 2 percent buy the brand because of it.\"\n[\n13\n]\nRecipes\nA copy of the recipe, signed by Sanders, is stored within a vault at KFC's\nLouisville\nheadquarters, along with 11 separate vials that each contain one of the ingredients.\n[\n14\n]\n[\n15\n]\nKFC employs two different firms, Griffith Laboratories and\nMcCormick & Company\n, to formulate the blend; to maintain secrecy, each firm is given a different half of the recipe. Once the Griffith portion has been formulated, it is sent to McCormick and combined with the remaining ingredients there.\n[\n16\n]\nIn 1983,\nWilliam Poundstone\nconducted laboratory research into the coating mix, as described in his book\nBig Secrets\n, and claimed that a sample he examined contained only\nflour\n,\nsalt\n,\nmonosodium glutamate\nand\nblack pepper\n.\n[\n17\n]\nKFC maintains that it still adheres to Sanders' original 1940 recipe.\n[\n18\n]\nIn\nTodd Wilbur\n's television program\nTop Secret Recipe\n, Sanders's former secretary, Shirley Topmiller, revealed that Sanders learned from his mother that\nsage\nand\nsavory\nare good seasonings for chicken.\n[\n19\n]\nAlso, Winston Shelton, a former friend of Sanders, said that the secret recipe contains\nTellicherry\nblack pepper.\n[\n19\n]\nIt is well attested that Harland Sanders asked Bill Summers of Marion-Kay Spices in\nBrownstown, Indiana\n, US to recreate his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices.\n[\n20\n]\nSanders recommended the Marion-Kay seasoning to franchisees over the corporate version, as he believed the latter had been made inferior by the corporation's inattention.\n[\n20\n]\nFollowing Sanders' passing, KFC sued Marion-Kay in 1982, and the latter was forbidden from selling its mixture to KFC franchises as a result.\n[\n20\n]\nThe Marion-Kay seasoning is still sold under the name \"99-X\", and according to Sanders biographer\nJosh Ozersky\n, it is indistinguishable from the original KFC recipe.\n[\n20\n]\nJoe Ledington\nIn August 2016, the\nChicago Tribune\nreported that Joe Ledington of Kentucky, a nephew by marriage of Colonel Sanders, had claimed to have found a copy of the original KFC fried chicken recipe on a handwritten piece of paper in an envelope in a scrapbook.\n[\n21\n]\nTribune\nstaffers conducted a cooking test of this recipe, which took several attempts to get right.\n[\n21\n]\nThey had to determine whether the \"Ts\" meant\ntablespoons\nor\nteaspoons\n.\n[\n21\n]\nAfter some trial and error, they decided the chicken should be soaked in\nbuttermilk\nand coated once in the breading mixture, then fried in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) in a pressure fryer until golden brown. As a pressure fryer was too big, a deep fryer was used alternatively as a substitute. They also claimed that, with the addition of\nMSG\nas a flavor enhancer, they could produce fried chicken which tasted \"indistinguishable\" from fried chicken that they had purchased at KFC.\n[\n21\n]\nThe recipe found by Joe Ledington reads as follows:\n[\n21\n]\n11 Spices – Mix With 2\nCups\nWhite Fl.\n1)\n2\n⁄\n3\nT.s\nSalt\n2)\n1\n⁄\n2\nTs\nThyme\n3)\n1\n⁄\n2\nTs\nBasil\n4)\n1\n⁄\n3\nTs\nOrigino\n[\nsic\n]\n5) 1 Ts\nCelory Salt\n[\nsic\n]\n6) 1 Ts\nBlack Pepper\n7) 1 Ts\nDried Mustard\n8) 4 Ts\nPaprika\n9) 2 Ts\nGarlic Salt\n10) 1 Ts Ground\nGinger\n11) 3 Ts\nWhite Pepper\nWhile Ledington expressed uncertainty that the recipe was the Original Recipe, he had a hand in mixing the Original Recipe for Colonel Sanders when he was a young boy, and recalled that white pepper was a principal ingredient.\n[\n21\n]\nReferences\n^\na\nb\nWhitworth, William (February 14, 1970).\n\"Kentucky-Fried\"\n.\nThe New Yorker\n. Retrieved\nApril 18,\n2015\n.\n^\nSchreiner, Bruce (July 23, 2005).\n\"KFC still guards Colonel's secret\"\n.\nAssociated Press\n. Archived from\nthe original\non November 6, 2013\n. Retrieved\nSeptember 19,\n2013\n.\n^\nKleber, John E.; Thomas D. Clark; Lowell H. Harrison; James C. Klotter (June 1992).\nThe Kentucky Encyclopedia\n.\nUniversity Press of Kentucky\n. p. 796.\nISBN\n \n0-8131-1772-0\n.\n^\nSanders, Harland (2012).\nThe Autobiography of the Original Celebrity Chef\n(PDF)\n. Louisville: KFC. p. 42. Archived from\nthe original\n(PDF)\non September 21, 2013.\n^\nOkawara, Takeshi (Summer 1993). \"Universality and particularity in globalization\".\nBusiness Quarterly\n.\n57\n(4):\n128–\n134.\n^\na\nb\nChartrand, Sandra (February 5, 2001).\n\"Patents; Many companies will forgo patents in an effort to safeguard their trade secrets\"\n.\nNew York Times\n. Retrieved\nSeptember 27,\n2013\n.\n^\nHovey, C. (2002).\nThe Patent Process: A Guide to Intellectual Property for the Information Age\n. Wiley. p. 243.\nISBN\n \n978-0-471-44217-2\n. Retrieved\nNovember 7,\n2017\n.\n^\nDarden, Robert (January 1, 2004).\nSecret Recipe: Why Kfc Is Still Cooking After 50 Years\n. Tapestry Press. pp. 12,\n57–\n58, 101, 159, 175, 211.\nISBN\n \n978-1-930819-33-7\n.\n^\nThomas, R. David (October 1, 1992).\nDave's Way: A New Approach to Old-Fashioned Success\n. Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. p. 82.\nISBN\n \n978-0-425-13501-3\n. Retrieved\nApril 4,\n2013\n.\n^\n\"It pays to understand law on trade secrets\"\n.\nBusiness First\n. February 26, 2001\n. Retrieved\nFebruary 22,\n2013\n.\n^\n\"KFC on lookout for fowl play\"\n.\nLos Angeles Times\n. September 10, 2008\n. Retrieved\nSeptember 27,\n2013\n.\n^\nSchreiner, Bruce.\n\"Kentucky Fried Chicken marks 50th anniversary of first franchise\"\n. Associated Press\n. Retrieved\nJuly 21,\n2012\n.\n^\na\nb\n\"Corporate Espionage; Secrets and lies\".\nBrand Strategy\n. October 9, 2006.\n^\nBrady, Diane (March 29, 2012).\n\"KFC's Big Game of Chicken\"\n.\nBusinessweek\n. Archived from\nthe original\non January 15, 2013\n. Retrieved\nJuly 1,\n2012\n.\n^\n\"Colonel's Secret Recipe Gets Bodyguards\"\n.\nCNBC\n. Associated Press. September 9, 2008.\nArchived\nfrom the original on September 23, 2013\n. Retrieved\nJanuary 31,\n2013\n.\n^\nCrossan, Rob (April 26, 2012). \"The A to Z of fried chicken\".\nThe Times\n. Times Newspapers.\n^\nPoundstone, William (1983).\nBig Secrets\n. William Morrow. pp. \n20–21\n.\nISBN\n \n0-688-04830-7\n.\n^\nChoi, Candice (August 26, 2013).\n\"Is Coke's 127-year-old recipe the same? Not quite\"\n.\nHouston Chronicle\n. Retrieved\nOctober 1,\n2013\n.\n^\na\nb\n\"KFC\"\n.\nTop Secret Recipe\n. Season 1. Episode 101. 2011. Viacom. CMT. Archived from\nthe original\non September 27, 2011\n. Retrieved\nOctober 1,\n2013\n.\n^\na\nb\nc\nd\nOzersky, Josh (April 2012).\nColonel Sanders and the American Dream\n. University of Texas Press. pp. \n95–\n96.\nISBN\n \n978-0-292-74285-7\n.\n^\na\nb\nc\nd\ne\nf\nDodrill, Tara (August 19, 2016).\n\"KFC recipe revealed? Tribune shown family scrapbook with 11 herbs and spices\"\n.\nChicago Tribune\n. Retrieved\nAugust 23,\n2016\n.","attrs_markdown":"[Jump to content](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#bodyContent)\n\nMain menu\n\nMain menu\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nNavigation\n\n- [Main page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Main_Page \"Visit the main page [z]\")\n- [Contents](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contents \"Guides to browsing Wikipedia\")\n- [Current events](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:Current_events \"Articles related to current events\")\n- [Random article](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:Random \"Visit a randomly selected article [x]\")\n- [About Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:About \"Learn about Wikipedia and how it works\")\n- [Contact us](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contact_us \"How to contact Wikipedia\")\n\nContribute\n\n- [Help](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Contents \"Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia\")\n- [Learn to edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Introduction \"Learn how to edit Wikipedia\")\n- [Community portal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Community_portal \"The hub for editors\")\n- [Recent changes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:RecentChanges \"A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]\")\n- [Upload file](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard \"Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia\")\n- [Special pages](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:SpecialPages \"A list of all special pages [q]\")\n\n[![](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/icons\/enwiki-25.svg) ![Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/mobile\/copyright\/wikipedia-wordmark-en-25.svg) ![The Free Encyclopedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/mobile\/copyright\/wikipedia-tagline-en-25.svg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Main_Page)\n\n[Search](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:Search \"Search Wikipedia [f]\")\n\nAppearance\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/donate.wikimedia.org\/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en)\n- [Create account](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=KFC+Original+Recipe \"You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory\")\n- [Log in](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=KFC+Original+Recipe \"You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]\")\n\nPersonal tools\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/donate.wikimedia.org\/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en)\n- [Create account](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=KFC+Original+Recipe \"You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory\")\n- [Log in](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=KFC+Original+Recipe \"You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]\")\n\n## Contents\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\n- [(Top)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe)\n- [1 History](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#History)\n- [2 Recipes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#Recipes)\n  Toggle Recipes subsection\n  - [2\\.1 Joe Ledington](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#Joe_Ledington)\n- [3 References](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#References)\n\nToggle the table of contents\n\n# KFC Original Recipe\n9 languages\n\n- [Català](https:\/\/ca.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Recepta_original_de_KFC \"Recepta original de KFC – Catalan\")\n- [Čeština](https:\/\/cs.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/P%C5%AFvodn%C3%AD_recept_KFC \"Původní recept KFC – Czech\")\n- [Español](https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Receta_original_de_KFC \"Receta original de KFC – Spanish\")\n- [Jawa](https:\/\/jv.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Res%C3%A8p_Asli_KFC \"Resèp Asli KFC – Javanese\")\n- [한국어](https:\/\/ko.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%EC%98%A4%EB%A6%AC%EC%A7%80%EB%84%90_%EC%B9%98%ED%82%A8 \"오리지널 치킨 – Korean\")\n- [Simple English](https:\/\/simple.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe \"KFC Original Recipe – Simple English\")\n- [ไทย](https:\/\/th.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B9%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B1%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9F%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%B5 \"สูตรดั้งเดิมของเคเอฟซี – Thai\")\n- [粵語](https:\/\/zh-yue.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E5%AE%B6%E9%84%89%E9%9B%9E \"家鄉雞 – Cantonese\")\n- [中文](https:\/\/zh.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E8%82%AF%E5%BE%B7%E5%9F%BA%E5%8E%9F%E5%91%B3%E7%82%B8%E9%9B%9E%E9%85%8D%E6%96%B9 \"肯德基原味炸雞配方 – Chinese\")\n\n[Edit links](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Special:EntityPage\/Q16988974#sitelinks-wikipedia \"Edit interlanguage links\")\n\n- [Article](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe \"View the content page [c]\")\n- [Talk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Talk:KFC_Original_Recipe \"Discuss improvements to the content page [t]\")\n\nEnglish\n\n- [Read](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe)\n- [View source](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=KFC_Original_Recipe&action=edit \"This page is protected.\n  You can view its source [e]\")\n- [View history](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=KFC_Original_Recipe&action=history \"Past revisions of this page [h]\")\n\nTools\n\nTools\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nActions\n\n- [Read](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe)\n- [View source](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=KFC_Original_Recipe&action=edit)\n- [View history](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=KFC_Original_Recipe&action=history)\n\nGeneral\n\n- [What links here](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:WhatLinksHere\/KFC_Original_Recipe \"List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]\")\n- [Related changes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:RecentChangesLinked\/KFC_Original_Recipe \"Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]\")\n- [Upload file](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard \"Upload files [u]\")\n- [Permanent link](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=KFC_Original_Recipe&oldid=1324584398 \"Permanent link to this revision of this page\")\n- [Page information](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=KFC_Original_Recipe&action=info \"More information about this page\")\n- [Cite this page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=KFC_Original_Recipe&id=1324584398&wpFormIdentifier=titleform \"Information on how to cite this page\")\n- [Get shortened URL](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FKFC_Original_Recipe)\n\nPrint\/export\n\n- [Download as PDF](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=KFC_Original_Recipe&action=show-download-screen \"Download this page as a PDF file\")\n- [Printable version](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=KFC_Original_Recipe&printable=yes \"Printable version of this page [p]\")\n\nIn other projects\n\n- [Wikimedia Commons](https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Category:KFC_Original_Recipe)\n- [Wikidata item](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Special:EntityPage\/Q16988974 \"Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]\")\n\nAppearance\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\n[![Page semi-protected](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/1\/1b\/Semi-protection-shackle.svg\/20px-Semi-protection-shackle.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Protection_policy#semi \"This article is semi-protected until June 25, 2026 at 16:56 UTC.\")\n\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\nSecret blend of ingredients used in KFC fried chicken\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/e\/ec\/KFC_Original_Recipe_chicken_in_bucket.jpg\/250px-KFC_Original_Recipe_chicken_in_bucket.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:KFC_Original_Recipe_chicken_in_bucket.jpg)\n\nKFC Original Recipe chicken\n\nThe **KFC Original Recipe** is a [secret mix](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Secret_ingredient \"Secret ingredient\") of ingredients that [fast food restaurant](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fast_food_restaurant \"Fast food restaurant\") chain [KFC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC \"KFC\") uses to produce [fried chicken](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fried_chicken \"Fried chicken\"). The [Claudia Sanders Dinner House](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Claudia_Sanders_Dinner_House \"Claudia Sanders Dinner House\") is the only other restaurant that serves an authorized version of the recipe.\n\nBy the very late 1930s, [Harland Sanders](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harland_Sanders \"Harland Sanders\")' [gas station](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Filling_station \"Filling station\") in [Corbin](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Corbin,_Kentucky \"Corbin, Kentucky\"), [Kentucky](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kentucky \"Kentucky\") was so well known for its fried chicken that Sanders decided to remove the gas pumps and build a restaurant and motel in their place. While perfecting his secret recipe with 11 herbs and spices, Sanders found that [pan frying](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pan_frying \"Pan frying\") chicken was too slow, requiring 30 minutes per order. Deep frying the chicken required half the time but produced dry, unevenly done chicken. In 1939, he found that using a [pressure fryer](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pressure_frying \"Pressure frying\") produced tasty, moist chicken in eight or nine minutes.[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-whitworth19700214-1) By July 1940, Sanders finalized what came to be known as his Original Recipe.[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-july1940-2)\n\nAfter Sanders formed a partnership with [Pete Harman](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pete_Harman \"Pete Harman\"), they began marketing the chicken in the 1950s as [Kentucky Fried Chicken](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kentucky_Fried_Chicken \"Kentucky Fried Chicken\"); the company shipped the spices already mixed to restaurants to preserve the recipe's secrecy.[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-whitworth19700214-1) He claimed that the ingredients \"stand on everybody's shelf\".[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-13-3)[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-celebritychef2-4)\n\nSanders used [vegetable oil](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vegetable_oil \"Vegetable oil\") for frying chicken. By 1993, for economic reasons, many KFC outlets had chosen to use a blend of palm and soybean oil. In Japan, the oil used is mainly the more expensive cottonseed and corn oil, as KFC Japan believes that this offers superior taste quality.[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-okawara-5)\n\n## History\nMain article: [History of KFC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/History_of_KFC \"History of KFC\")\n\nSanders' Original Recipe of \"11 herbs and spices\" is one of the most famous [trade secrets](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trade_secret \"Trade secret\") in the catering industry.[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Chartrand-6)[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-7) Franchisee [Dave Thomas](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dave_Thomas_\\(businessman\\) \"Dave Thomas (businessman)\"), better known as the founder of [Wendy's](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wendy%27s \"Wendy's\"), argued that the secret recipe concept was successful because \"everybody wants in on a secret\" and former KFC owner [John Y. Brown, Jr.](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Y._Brown,_Jr. \"John Y. Brown, Jr.\") called it \"a brilliant marketing ploy.\"[\\[8\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Darden1-8)[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated58-9) *The [New York Times](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_York_Times \"New York Times\")* described the recipe as one of the company's most valuable assets.[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Chartrand-6) The recipe is not [patented](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Patent \"Patent\"), because patents are published in detail and come with [an expiration date](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Term_of_patent \"Term of patent\"), whereas trade secrets can remain the [intellectual property](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intellectual_property \"Intellectual property\") of their holders in perpetuity.[\\[10\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-10)\n\nKFC uses its Original Recipe as a means to differentiate its product from its competitors.[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated18-11) Early franchisee [Pete Harman](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pete_Harman \"Pete Harman\") credited the chain's popularity to the recipe and the product, and John Y. Brown cites the \"incredibly tasty, almost addictive\" product as the basis of KFC's staying power.[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-51-12) On the other hand, Allen Adamson, [managing director](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Managing_director \"Managing director\") of brand consultancy [Landor](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Landor_Associates \"Landor Associates\"), remains unconvinced about the contribution of the secret formula aspect.[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-56-13) He argues: \"The story may still be part of these companies' folklore, but I'd be surprised if more than 2 percent buy the brand because of it.\"[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-56-13)\n\n## Recipes\nA copy of the recipe, signed by Sanders, is stored within a vault at KFC's [Louisville](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Louisville,_Kentucky \"Louisville, Kentucky\") headquarters, along with 11 separate vials that each contain one of the ingredients.[\\[14\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated21-14)[\\[15\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-15) KFC employs two different firms, Griffith Laboratories and [McCormick & Company](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/McCormick_%26_Company \"McCormick & Company\"), to formulate the blend; to maintain secrecy, each firm is given a different half of the recipe. Once the Griffith portion has been formulated, it is sent to McCormick and combined with the remaining ingredients there.[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-crossan-16)\n\nIn 1983, [William Poundstone](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/William_Poundstone \"William Poundstone\") conducted laboratory research into the coating mix, as described in his book *[Big Secrets](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Big_Secrets \"Big Secrets\")*, and claimed that a sample he examined contained only [flour](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wheat_flour \"Wheat flour\"), [salt](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Table_salt \"Table salt\"), [monosodium glutamate](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Monosodium_glutamate \"Monosodium glutamate\") and [black pepper](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Black_pepper \"Black pepper\").[\\[17\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-pound-17) KFC maintains that it still adheres to Sanders' original 1940 recipe.[\\[18\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-choi-18) In [Todd Wilbur](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Todd_Wilbur \"Todd Wilbur\")'s television program *Top Secret Recipe*, Sanders's former secretary, Shirley Topmiller, revealed that Sanders learned from his mother that [sage](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Salvia_officinalis \"Salvia officinalis\") and [savory](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Summer_savory \"Summer savory\") are good seasonings for chicken.[\\[19\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated1-19) Also, Winston Shelton, a former friend of Sanders, said that the secret recipe contains [Tellicherry](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thalassery \"Thalassery\") black pepper.[\\[19\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated1-19)\n\nIt is well attested that Harland Sanders asked Bill Summers of Marion-Kay Spices in [Brownstown, Indiana](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Brownstown,_Indiana \"Brownstown, Indiana\"), US to recreate his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) Sanders recommended the Marion-Kay seasoning to franchisees over the corporate version, as he believed the latter had been made inferior by the corporation's inattention.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) Following Sanders' passing, KFC sued Marion-Kay in 1982, and the latter was forbidden from selling its mixture to KFC franchises as a result.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) The Marion-Kay seasoning is still sold under the name \"99-X\", and according to Sanders biographer [Josh Ozersky](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Josh_Ozersky \"Josh Ozersky\"), it is indistinguishable from the original KFC recipe.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20)\n\n### Joe Ledington\nIn August 2016, the *[Chicago Tribune](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chicago_Tribune \"Chicago Tribune\")* reported that Joe Ledington of Kentucky, a nephew by marriage of Colonel Sanders, had claimed to have found a copy of the original KFC fried chicken recipe on a handwritten piece of paper in an envelope in a scrapbook.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) *Tribune* staffers conducted a cooking test of this recipe, which took several attempts to get right.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) They had to determine whether the \"Ts\" meant [tablespoons](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tablespoon \"Tablespoon\") or [teaspoons](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Teaspoon \"Teaspoon\").[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21)\n\nAfter some trial and error, they decided the chicken should be soaked in [buttermilk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Buttermilk \"Buttermilk\") and coated once in the breading mixture, then fried in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) in a pressure fryer until golden brown. As a pressure fryer was too big, a deep fryer was used alternatively as a substitute. They also claimed that, with the addition of [MSG](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Monosodium_glutamate \"Monosodium glutamate\") as a flavor enhancer, they could produce fried chicken which tasted \"indistinguishable\" from fried chicken that they had purchased at KFC.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21)\n\nThe recipe found by Joe Ledington reads as follows:[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21)\n\n> 11 Spices – Mix With 2 [Cups](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cup_\\(unit\\) \"Cup (unit)\") [White Fl.](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/White_flour \"White flour\")  \n>  1) 2⁄3 T.s [Salt](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Salt \"Salt\")  \n>  2) 1⁄2 Ts [Thyme](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thyme \"Thyme\")  \n>  3) 1⁄2 Ts [Basil](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basil \"Basil\")  \n>  4) 1⁄3 Ts [Origino](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oregano \"Oregano\") \\[*[sic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sic \"Sic\")*\\]  \n>  5) 1 Ts [Celory Salt](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Celery_salt \"Celery salt\") \\[*[sic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sic \"Sic\")*\\]  \n>  6) 1 Ts [Black Pepper](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Black_Pepper \"Black Pepper\")  \n>  7) 1 Ts [Dried Mustard](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mustard_seed \"Mustard seed\")  \n>  8) 4 Ts [Paprika](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paprika \"Paprika\")  \n>  9) 2 Ts [Garlic Salt](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Garlic_salt \"Garlic salt\")  \n>  10) 1 Ts Ground [Ginger](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ginger \"Ginger\")  \n>  11) 3 Ts [White Pepper](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/White_pepper \"White pepper\")\n\nWhile Ledington expressed uncertainty that the recipe was the Original Recipe, he had a hand in mixing the Original Recipe for Colonel Sanders when he was a young boy, and recalled that white pepper was a principal ingredient.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21)\n\n## References\n1. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-whitworth19700214_1-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-whitworth19700214_1-1)\n   Whitworth, William (February 14, 1970). [\"Kentucky-Fried\"](http:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/magazine\/1970\/02\/14\/kentucky-fried). *The New Yorker*. Retrieved April 18, 2015.\n2. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-july1940_2-0)**\n   Schreiner, Bruce (July 23, 2005). [\"KFC still guards Colonel's secret\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20131106024339\/http:\/\/jacksonville.com\/tu-online\/stories\/072305\/bus_19314459.shtml). *Associated Press*. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/jacksonville.com\/tu-online\/stories\/072305\/bus_19314459.shtml) on November 6, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.\n3. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-13_3-0)**\n   Kleber, John E.; Thomas D. Clark; Lowell H. Harrison; James C. Klotter (June 1992). *The Kentucky Encyclopedia*. [University Press of Kentucky](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/University_Press_of_Kentucky \"University Press of Kentucky\"). p. 796. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n   \n   [0-8131-1772-0](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0-8131-1772-0 \"Special:BookSources\/0-8131-1772-0\")\n   \n   .\n4. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-celebritychef2_4-0)**\n   Sanders, Harland (2012). [*The Autobiography of the Original Celebrity Chef*](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130921055011\/https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/colcookbook\/us\/pdf\/English_FullBook.pdf) (PDF). Louisville: KFC. p. 42. Archived from [the original](https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/colcookbook\/us\/pdf\/English_FullBook.pdf) (PDF) on September 21, 2013.\n5. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-okawara_5-0)**\n   Okawara, Takeshi (Summer 1993). \"Universality and particularity in globalization\". *Business Quarterly*. **57** (4): 128–134\\.\n6. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Chartrand_6-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Chartrand_6-1)\n   Chartrand, Sandra (February 5, 2001). [\"Patents; Many companies will forgo patents in an effort to safeguard their trade secrets\"](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2001\/02\/05\/business\/patents-many-companies-will-forgo-patents-effort-safeguard-their-trade-secrets.html?n=Top%2FNews%2FTechnology%2FColumns%2FPatents). *New York Times*. Retrieved September 27, 2013.\n7. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-7)**\n   Hovey, C. (2002). [*The Patent Process: A Guide to Intellectual Property for the Information Age*](https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=aulUAAAAMAAJ). Wiley. p. 243. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n   \n   [978-0-471-44217-2](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0-471-44217-2 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0-471-44217-2\")\n   \n   . Retrieved November 7, 2017.\n8. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Darden1_8-0)**\n   Darden, Robert (January 1, 2004). *Secret Recipe: Why Kfc Is Still Cooking After 50 Years*. Tapestry Press. pp. 12, 57–58, 101, 159, 175, 211. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n   \n   [978-1-930819-33-7](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-1-930819-33-7 \"Special:BookSources\/978-1-930819-33-7\")\n   \n   .\n9. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated58_9-0)**\n   Thomas, R. David (October 1, 1992). [*Dave's Way: A New Approach to Old-Fashioned Success*](https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=Y1j8bD6SQrAC). Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. p. 82. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n   \n   [978-0-425-13501-3](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0-425-13501-3 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0-425-13501-3\")\n   \n   . Retrieved April 4, 2013.\n10. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-10)**\n    [\"It pays to understand law on trade secrets\"](http:\/\/www.bizjournals.com\/louisville\/stories\/2001\/02\/26\/editorial2.html?page=all). *Business First*. February 26, 2001. Retrieved February 22, 2013.\n11. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated18_11-0)**\n    [\"KFC on lookout for fowl play\"](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/archives\/la-xpm-2008-sep-10-fi-kfc10-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. September 10, 2008. Retrieved September 27, 2013.\n12. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-51_12-0)**\n    Schreiner, Bruce. [\"Kentucky Fried Chicken marks 50th anniversary of first franchise\"](http:\/\/onlineathens.com\/stories\/081102\/bus_20020811016.shtml). Associated Press. Retrieved July 21, 2012.\n13. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-56_13-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-56_13-1)\n    \"Corporate Espionage; Secrets and lies\". *Brand Strategy*. October 9, 2006.\n14. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated21_14-0)**\n    Brady, Diane (March 29, 2012). [\"KFC's Big Game of Chicken\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130115170657\/http:\/\/mobile.businessweek.com\/articles\/2012-03-29\/kfcs-big-game-of-chicken). *Businessweek*. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/mobile.businessweek.com\/articles\/2012-03-29\/kfcs-big-game-of-chicken) on January 15, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2012.\n15. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-15)**\n    [\"Colonel's Secret Recipe Gets Bodyguards\"](https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2008\/09\/09\/colonels-secret-recipe-gets-bodyguards.html). *CNBC*. Associated Press. September 9, 2008. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130923032226\/http:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/id\/26618866\/Colonel039s_Secret_Recipe_Gets_Bodyguards) from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.\n16. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-crossan_16-0)**\n    Crossan, Rob (April 26, 2012). \"The A to Z of fried chicken\". *The Times*. Times Newspapers.\n17. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-pound_17-0)**\n    Poundstone, William (1983). [*Big Secrets*](https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/bigsecretsuncens00poun\/page\/20). William Morrow. pp. [20–21](https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/bigsecretsuncens00poun\/page\/20). [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n    \n    [0-688-04830-7](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0-688-04830-7 \"Special:BookSources\/0-688-04830-7\")\n    \n    .\n18. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-choi_18-0)**\n    Choi, Candice (August 26, 2013). [\"Is Coke's 127-year-old recipe the same? Not quite\"](http:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/business\/article\/Is-Coke-s-127-year-old-recipe-the-same-Not-quite-4777106.php). *[Houston Chronicle](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Houston_Chronicle \"Houston Chronicle\")*. Retrieved October 1, 2013.\n19. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated1_19-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated1_19-1)\n    [\"KFC\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20110927063906\/http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/show\/top_secret_recipe\/episode.jhtml?episodeID=184796#moreinfo). *Top Secret Recipe*. Season 1. Episode 101. 2011. Viacom. CMT. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/show\/top_secret_recipe\/episode.jhtml?episodeID=184796#moreinfo) on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2013.\n20. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-2) [***d***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-3)\n    Ozersky, Josh (April 2012). *Colonel Sanders and the American Dream*. University of Texas Press. pp. 95–96\\. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n    \n    [978-0-292-74285-7](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0-292-74285-7 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0-292-74285-7\")\n    \n    .\n21. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-2) [***d***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-3) [***e***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-4) [***f***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-5)\n    Dodrill, Tara (August 19, 2016). [\"KFC recipe revealed? Tribune shown family scrapbook with 11 herbs and spices\"](http:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/lifestyles\/travel\/ct-kfc-recipe-revealed-20160818-story.html). [Chicago Tribune](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chicago_Tribune \"Chicago Tribune\"). Retrieved August 23, 2016.\n\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:KFC \"Template:KFC\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:KFC \"Template talk:KFC\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:KFC \"Special:EditPage\/Template:KFC\")[KFC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC \"KFC\") |   |\n|---|---|\n| People | [Colonel Sanders](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Colonel_Sanders \"Colonel Sanders\") (founder) [Pete Harman](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pete_Harman \"Pete Harman\") [David C. Novak](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/David_C._Novak \"David C. Novak\") [Roger Eaton](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roger_Eaton \"Roger Eaton\") |\n| Company | [Advertising](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_advertising \"KFC advertising\") [History](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/History_of_KFC \"History of KFC\") |\n| Notable locations | [Harland Sanders Café and Museum](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harland_Sanders_Caf%C3%A9_and_Museum \"Harland Sanders Café and Museum\") [KFC Yum! Center](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Yum!_Center \"KFC Yum! Center\") [Big Chicken](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Big_Chicken \"Big Chicken\") |\n| Products and recipes | [Original Recipe]() [Popcorn chicken](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Popcorn_chicken \"Popcorn chicken\") [KFC Snacker](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Snacker \"KFC Snacker\") [Double Down](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Double_Down_\\(sandwich\\) \"Double Down (sandwich)\") [Beyond Fried Chicken](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Beyond_Fried_Chicken \"Beyond Fried Chicken\") |\n| [Regional operations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_countries_with_KFC_franchises \"List of countries with KFC franchises\") | [By country](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Operations_of_KFC_by_country \"Operations of KFC by country\") [China](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_in_China \"KFC in China\") [Yum China](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yum_China \"Yum China\") [Israel](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Israel \"KFC Israel\") [Japan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_in_Japan \"KFC in Japan\") [Pakistan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Pakistan \"KFC Pakistan\") [South Africa](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_in_South_Africa \"KFC in South Africa\") |\n| Related articles | [Claudia Sanders Dinner House](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Claudia_Sanders_Dinner_House \"Claudia Sanders Dinner House\") [Curse of the Colonel](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Curse_of_the_Colonel \"Curse of the Colonel\") [H. Salt Esquire](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/H._Salt_Esquire \"H. Salt Esquire\") *[I Love You, Colonel Sanders\\!](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/I_Love_You,_Colonel_Sanders! \"I Love You, Colonel Sanders!\")* *[A Recipe for Seduction](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/A_Recipe_for_Seduction \"A Recipe for Seduction\")* [Kentucky Fried Cruelty](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kentucky_Fried_Cruelty \"Kentucky Fried Cruelty\") [Kentucky Fried Chicken murders](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kentucky_Fried_Chicken_murders \"Kentucky Fried Chicken murders\") [KFC Index](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Index \"KFC Index\") [KFC rice](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_rice \"KFC rice\") [PETA satirical browser games](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/PETA_satirical_browser_games \"PETA satirical browser games\") [Zantigo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zantigo \"Zantigo\") |\n| ![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/9\/96\/Symbol_category_class.svg\/20px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png) [Category](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:KFC \"Category:KFC\") |   |\n\n![](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:CentralAutoLogin\/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=1)\n\nRetrieved from \"<https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=KFC_Original_Recipe&oldid=1324584398>\"\n\n[Categories](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Category \"Help:Category\"):\n\n- [KFC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:KFC \"Category:KFC\")\n- [Trade secrets](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Trade_secrets \"Category:Trade secrets\")\n- [Products introduced in 1952](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Products_introduced_in_1952 \"Category:Products introduced in 1952\")\n- [Cuisine of Kentucky](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Cuisine_of_Kentucky \"Category:Cuisine of Kentucky\")\n- [Fried chicken](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Fried_chicken \"Category:Fried chicken\")\n\nHidden categories:\n\n- [Articles with short description](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Articles_with_short_description \"Category:Articles with short description\")\n- [Short description is different from Wikidata](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Short_description_is_different_from_Wikidata \"Category:Short description is different from Wikidata\")\n- [Wikipedia semi-protected pages](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Wikipedia_semi-protected_pages \"Category:Wikipedia semi-protected pages\")\n- [Use mdy dates from October 2017](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Use_mdy_dates_from_October_2017 \"Category:Use mdy dates from October 2017\")\n\n- This page was last edited on 28 November 2025, at 13:16 (UTC).\n- Text is available under the [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License \"Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License\"); additional terms may apply. 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The [Claudia Sanders Dinner House](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Claudia_Sanders_Dinner_House \"Claudia Sanders Dinner House\") is the only other restaurant that serves an authorized version of the recipe.\n\nBy the very late 1930s, [Harland Sanders](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harland_Sanders \"Harland Sanders\")' [gas station](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Filling_station \"Filling station\") in [Corbin](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Corbin,_Kentucky \"Corbin, Kentucky\"), [Kentucky](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kentucky \"Kentucky\") was so well known for its fried chicken that Sanders decided to remove the gas pumps and build a restaurant and motel in their place. While perfecting his secret recipe with 11 herbs and spices, Sanders found that [pan frying](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pan_frying \"Pan frying\") chicken was too slow, requiring 30 minutes per order. Deep frying the chicken required half the time but produced dry, unevenly done chicken. In 1939, he found that using a [pressure fryer](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pressure_frying \"Pressure frying\") produced tasty, moist chicken in eight or nine minutes.[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-whitworth19700214-1) By July 1940, Sanders finalized what came to be known as his Original Recipe.[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-july1940-2)\n\nAfter Sanders formed a partnership with [Pete Harman](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pete_Harman \"Pete Harman\"), they began marketing the chicken in the 1950s as [Kentucky Fried Chicken](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kentucky_Fried_Chicken \"Kentucky Fried Chicken\"); the company shipped the spices already mixed to restaurants to preserve the recipe's secrecy.[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-whitworth19700214-1) He claimed that the ingredients \"stand on everybody's shelf\".[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-13-3)[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-celebritychef2-4)\n\nSanders used [vegetable oil](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vegetable_oil \"Vegetable oil\") for frying chicken. By 1993, for economic reasons, many KFC outlets had chosen to use a blend of palm and soybean oil. In Japan, the oil used is mainly the more expensive cottonseed and corn oil, as KFC Japan believes that this offers superior taste quality.[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-okawara-5)\n\nHistory\n\nSanders' Original Recipe of \"11 herbs and spices\" is one of the most famous [trade secrets](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trade_secret \"Trade secret\") in the catering industry.[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Chartrand-6)[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-7) Franchisee [Dave Thomas](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dave_Thomas_\\(businessman\\) \"Dave Thomas (businessman)\"), better known as the founder of [Wendy's](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wendy%27s \"Wendy's\"), argued that the secret recipe concept was successful because \"everybody wants in on a secret\" and former KFC owner [John Y. Brown, Jr.](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Y._Brown,_Jr. \"John Y. Brown, Jr.\") called it \"a brilliant marketing ploy.\"[\\[8\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Darden1-8)[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated58-9) *The [New York Times](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_York_Times \"New York Times\")* described the recipe as one of the company's most valuable assets.[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Chartrand-6) The recipe is not [patented](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Patent \"Patent\"), because patents are published in detail and come with [an expiration date](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Term_of_patent \"Term of patent\"), whereas trade secrets can remain the [intellectual property](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intellectual_property \"Intellectual property\") of their holders in perpetuity.[\\[10\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-10)\n\nKFC uses its Original Recipe as a means to differentiate its product from its competitors.[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated18-11) Early franchisee [Pete Harman](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pete_Harman \"Pete Harman\") credited the chain's popularity to the recipe and the product, and John Y. Brown cites the \"incredibly tasty, almost addictive\" product as the basis of KFC's staying power.[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-51-12) On the other hand, Allen Adamson, [managing director](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Managing_director \"Managing director\") of brand consultancy [Landor](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Landor_Associates \"Landor Associates\"), remains unconvinced about the contribution of the secret formula aspect.[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-56-13) He argues: \"The story may still be part of these companies' folklore, but I'd be surprised if more than 2 percent buy the brand because of it.\"[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-56-13)\n\nRecipes\n\nA copy of the recipe, signed by Sanders, is stored within a vault at KFC's [Louisville](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Louisville,_Kentucky \"Louisville, Kentucky\") headquarters, along with 11 separate vials that each contain one of the ingredients.[\\[14\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated21-14)[\\[15\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-15) KFC employs two different firms, Griffith Laboratories and [McCormick & Company](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/McCormick_%26_Company \"McCormick & Company\"), to formulate the blend; to maintain secrecy, each firm is given a different half of the recipe. Once the Griffith portion has been formulated, it is sent to McCormick and combined with the remaining ingredients there.[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-crossan-16)\n\nIn 1983, [William Poundstone](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/William_Poundstone \"William Poundstone\") conducted laboratory research into the coating mix, as described in his book *[Big Secrets](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Big_Secrets \"Big Secrets\")*, and claimed that a sample he examined contained only [flour](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wheat_flour \"Wheat flour\"), [salt](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Table_salt \"Table salt\"), [monosodium glutamate](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Monosodium_glutamate \"Monosodium glutamate\") and [black pepper](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Black_pepper \"Black pepper\").[\\[17\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-pound-17) KFC maintains that it still adheres to Sanders' original 1940 recipe.[\\[18\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-choi-18) In [Todd Wilbur](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Todd_Wilbur \"Todd Wilbur\")'s television program *Top Secret Recipe*, Sanders's former secretary, Shirley Topmiller, revealed that Sanders learned from his mother that [sage](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Salvia_officinalis \"Salvia officinalis\") and [savory](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Summer_savory \"Summer savory\") are good seasonings for chicken.[\\[19\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated1-19) Also, Winston Shelton, a former friend of Sanders, said that the secret recipe contains [Tellicherry](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thalassery \"Thalassery\") black pepper.[\\[19\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated1-19)\n\nIt is well attested that Harland Sanders asked Bill Summers of Marion-Kay Spices in [Brownstown, Indiana](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Brownstown,_Indiana \"Brownstown, Indiana\"), US to recreate his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) Sanders recommended the Marion-Kay seasoning to franchisees over the corporate version, as he believed the latter had been made inferior by the corporation's inattention.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) Following Sanders' passing, KFC sued Marion-Kay in 1982, and the latter was forbidden from selling its mixture to KFC franchises as a result.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) The Marion-Kay seasoning is still sold under the name \"99-X\", and according to Sanders biographer [Josh Ozersky](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Josh_Ozersky \"Josh Ozersky\"), it is indistinguishable from the original KFC recipe.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20)\n\nJoe Ledington\n\nIn August 2016, the *[Chicago Tribune](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chicago_Tribune \"Chicago Tribune\")* reported that Joe Ledington of Kentucky, a nephew by marriage of Colonel Sanders, had claimed to have found a copy of the original KFC fried chicken recipe on a handwritten piece of paper in an envelope in a scrapbook.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) *Tribune* staffers conducted a cooking test of this recipe, which took several attempts to get right.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) They had to determine whether the \"Ts\" meant [tablespoons](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tablespoon \"Tablespoon\") or [teaspoons](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Teaspoon \"Teaspoon\").[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21)\n\nAfter some trial and error, they decided the chicken should be soaked in [buttermilk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Buttermilk \"Buttermilk\") and coated once in the breading mixture, then fried in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) in a pressure fryer until golden brown. As a pressure fryer was too big, a deep fryer was used alternatively as a substitute. They also claimed that, with the addition of [MSG](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Monosodium_glutamate \"Monosodium glutamate\") as a flavor enhancer, they could produce fried chicken which tasted \"indistinguishable\" from fried chicken that they had purchased at KFC.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21)\n\nThe recipe found by Joe Ledington reads as follows:[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21)\n\n> 11 Spices – Mix With 2 [Cups](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cup_\\(unit\\) \"Cup (unit)\") [White Fl.](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/White_flour \"White flour\")  \n>  1) 2⁄3 T.s [Salt](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Salt \"Salt\")  \n>  2) 1⁄2 Ts [Thyme](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thyme \"Thyme\")  \n>  3) 1⁄2 Ts [Basil](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basil \"Basil\")  \n>  4) 1⁄3 Ts [Origino](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oregano \"Oregano\") \\[*[sic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sic \"Sic\")*\\]  \n>  5) 1 Ts [Celory Salt](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Celery_salt \"Celery salt\") \\[*[sic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sic \"Sic\")*\\]  \n>  6) 1 Ts [Black Pepper](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Black_Pepper \"Black Pepper\")  \n>  7) 1 Ts [Dried Mustard](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mustard_seed \"Mustard seed\")  \n>  8) 4 Ts [Paprika](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paprika \"Paprika\")  \n>  9) 2 Ts [Garlic Salt](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Garlic_salt \"Garlic salt\")  \n>  10) 1 Ts Ground [Ginger](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ginger \"Ginger\")  \n>  11) 3 Ts [White Pepper](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/White_pepper \"White pepper\")\n\nWhile Ledington expressed uncertainty that the recipe was the Original Recipe, he had a hand in mixing the Original Recipe for Colonel Sanders when he was a young boy, and recalled that white pepper was a principal ingredient.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21)\n\nReferences\n\n1. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-whitworth19700214_1-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-whitworth19700214_1-1)\n   Whitworth, William (February 14, 1970). [\"Kentucky-Fried\"](http:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/magazine\/1970\/02\/14\/kentucky-fried). *The New Yorker*. Retrieved April 18, 2015.\n2. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-july1940_2-0)**\n   Schreiner, Bruce (July 23, 2005). [\"KFC still guards Colonel's secret\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20131106024339\/http:\/\/jacksonville.com\/tu-online\/stories\/072305\/bus_19314459.shtml). *Associated Press*. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/jacksonville.com\/tu-online\/stories\/072305\/bus_19314459.shtml) on November 6, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.\n3. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-13_3-0)**\n   Kleber, John E.; Thomas D. Clark; Lowell H. Harrison; James C. Klotter (June 1992). *The Kentucky Encyclopedia*. [University Press of Kentucky](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/University_Press_of_Kentucky \"University Press of Kentucky\"). p. 796. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n   \n   [0-8131-1772-0](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0-8131-1772-0 \"Special:BookSources\/0-8131-1772-0\")\n   \n   .\n4. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-celebritychef2_4-0)**\n   Sanders, Harland (2012). [*The Autobiography of the Original Celebrity Chef*](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130921055011\/https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/colcookbook\/us\/pdf\/English_FullBook.pdf) (PDF). Louisville: KFC. p. 42. Archived from [the original](https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/colcookbook\/us\/pdf\/English_FullBook.pdf) (PDF) on September 21, 2013.\n5. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-okawara_5-0)**\n   Okawara, Takeshi (Summer 1993). \"Universality and particularity in globalization\". *Business Quarterly*. **57** (4): 128–134\\.\n6. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Chartrand_6-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Chartrand_6-1)\n   Chartrand, Sandra (February 5, 2001). [\"Patents; Many companies will forgo patents in an effort to safeguard their trade secrets\"](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2001\/02\/05\/business\/patents-many-companies-will-forgo-patents-effort-safeguard-their-trade-secrets.html?n=Top%2FNews%2FTechnology%2FColumns%2FPatents). *New York Times*. Retrieved September 27, 2013.\n7. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-7)**\n   Hovey, C. (2002). [*The Patent Process: A Guide to Intellectual Property for the Information Age*](https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=aulUAAAAMAAJ). Wiley. p. 243. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n   \n   [978-0-471-44217-2](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0-471-44217-2 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0-471-44217-2\")\n   \n   . Retrieved November 7, 2017.\n8. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Darden1_8-0)**\n   Darden, Robert (January 1, 2004). *Secret Recipe: Why Kfc Is Still Cooking After 50 Years*. Tapestry Press. pp. 12, 57–58, 101, 159, 175, 211. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n   \n   [978-1-930819-33-7](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-1-930819-33-7 \"Special:BookSources\/978-1-930819-33-7\")\n   \n   .\n9. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated58_9-0)**\n   Thomas, R. David (October 1, 1992). [*Dave's Way: A New Approach to Old-Fashioned Success*](https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=Y1j8bD6SQrAC). Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. p. 82. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n   \n   [978-0-425-13501-3](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0-425-13501-3 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0-425-13501-3\")\n   \n   . Retrieved April 4, 2013.\n10. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-10)**\n    [\"It pays to understand law on trade secrets\"](http:\/\/www.bizjournals.com\/louisville\/stories\/2001\/02\/26\/editorial2.html?page=all). *Business First*. February 26, 2001. Retrieved February 22, 2013.\n11. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated18_11-0)**\n    [\"KFC on lookout for fowl play\"](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/archives\/la-xpm-2008-sep-10-fi-kfc10-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. September 10, 2008. Retrieved September 27, 2013.\n12. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-51_12-0)**\n    Schreiner, Bruce. [\"Kentucky Fried Chicken marks 50th anniversary of first franchise\"](http:\/\/onlineathens.com\/stories\/081102\/bus_20020811016.shtml). Associated Press. Retrieved July 21, 2012.\n13. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-56_13-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-56_13-1)\n    \"Corporate Espionage; Secrets and lies\". *Brand Strategy*. October 9, 2006.\n14. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated21_14-0)**\n    Brady, Diane (March 29, 2012). [\"KFC's Big Game of Chicken\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130115170657\/http:\/\/mobile.businessweek.com\/articles\/2012-03-29\/kfcs-big-game-of-chicken). *Businessweek*. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/mobile.businessweek.com\/articles\/2012-03-29\/kfcs-big-game-of-chicken) on January 15, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2012.\n15. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-15)**\n    [\"Colonel's Secret Recipe Gets Bodyguards\"](https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2008\/09\/09\/colonels-secret-recipe-gets-bodyguards.html). *CNBC*. Associated Press. September 9, 2008. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130923032226\/http:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/id\/26618866\/Colonel039s_Secret_Recipe_Gets_Bodyguards) from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.\n16. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-crossan_16-0)**\n    Crossan, Rob (April 26, 2012). \"The A to Z of fried chicken\". *The Times*. Times Newspapers.\n17. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-pound_17-0)**\n    Poundstone, William (1983). [*Big Secrets*](https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/bigsecretsuncens00poun\/page\/20). William Morrow. pp. [20–21](https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/bigsecretsuncens00poun\/page\/20). [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n    \n    [0-688-04830-7](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0-688-04830-7 \"Special:BookSources\/0-688-04830-7\")\n    \n    .\n18. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-choi_18-0)**\n    Choi, Candice (August 26, 2013). [\"Is Coke's 127-year-old recipe the same? Not quite\"](http:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/business\/article\/Is-Coke-s-127-year-old-recipe-the-same-Not-quite-4777106.php). *[Houston Chronicle](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Houston_Chronicle \"Houston Chronicle\")*. Retrieved October 1, 2013.\n19. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated1_19-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated1_19-1)\n    [\"KFC\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20110927063906\/http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/show\/top_secret_recipe\/episode.jhtml?episodeID=184796#moreinfo). *Top Secret Recipe*. Season 1. Episode 101. 2011. Viacom. CMT. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/show\/top_secret_recipe\/episode.jhtml?episodeID=184796#moreinfo) on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2013.\n20. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-2) [***d***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-3)\n    Ozersky, Josh (April 2012). *Colonel Sanders and the American Dream*. University of Texas Press. pp. 95–96\\. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n    \n    [978-0-292-74285-7](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0-292-74285-7 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0-292-74285-7\")\n    \n    .\n21. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-2) [***d***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-3) [***e***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-4) [***f***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-5)\n    Dodrill, Tara (August 19, 2016). [\"KFC recipe revealed? Tribune shown family scrapbook with 11 herbs and spices\"](http:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/lifestyles\/travel\/ct-kfc-recipe-revealed-20160818-story.html). [Chicago Tribune](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chicago_Tribune \"Chicago Tribune\"). Retrieved August 23, 2016.","meta_canonical":null}

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URL	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe
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Boilerpipe Text	From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia KFC Original Recipe chicken 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. By the very late 1930s, Harland Sanders ' gas station in Corbin , Kentucky was so well known for its fried chicken that Sanders decided to remove the gas pumps and build a restaurant and motel in their place. While perfecting his secret recipe with 11 herbs and spices, Sanders found that pan frying chicken was too slow, requiring 30 minutes per order. Deep frying the chicken required half the time but produced dry, unevenly done chicken. In 1939, he found that using a pressure fryer produced tasty, moist chicken in eight or nine minutes. [ 1 ] By July 1940, Sanders finalized what came to be known as his Original Recipe. [ 2 ] After Sanders formed a partnership with Pete Harman , they began marketing the chicken in the 1950s as Kentucky Fried Chicken ; the company shipped the spices already mixed to restaurants to preserve the recipe's secrecy. [ 1 ] He claimed that the ingredients "stand on everybody's shelf". [ 3 ] [ 4 ] Sanders used vegetable oil for frying chicken. By 1993, for economic reasons, many KFC outlets had chosen to use a blend of palm and soybean oil. In Japan, the oil used is mainly the more expensive cottonseed and corn oil, as KFC Japan believes that this offers superior taste quality. [ 5 ] History Sanders' Original Recipe of "11 herbs and spices" is one of the most famous trade secrets in the catering industry. [ 6 ] [ 7 ] Franchisee Dave Thomas , better known as the founder of Wendy's , argued that the secret recipe concept was successful because "everybody wants in on a secret" and former KFC owner John Y. Brown, Jr. called it "a brilliant marketing ploy." [ 8 ] [ 9 ] The New York Times described the recipe as one of the company's most valuable assets. [ 6 ] The recipe is not patented , because patents are published in detail and come with an expiration date , whereas trade secrets can remain the intellectual property of their holders in perpetuity. [ 10 ] KFC uses its Original Recipe as a means to differentiate its product from its competitors. [ 11 ] Early franchisee Pete Harman credited the chain's popularity to the recipe and the product, and John Y. Brown cites the "incredibly tasty, almost addictive" product as the basis of KFC's staying power. [ 12 ] On the other hand, Allen Adamson, managing director of brand consultancy Landor , remains unconvinced about the contribution of the secret formula aspect. [ 13 ] He argues: "The story may still be part of these companies' folklore, but I'd be surprised if more than 2 percent buy the brand because of it." [ 13 ] Recipes A copy of the recipe, signed by Sanders, is stored within a vault at KFC's Louisville headquarters, along with 11 separate vials that each contain one of the ingredients. [ 14 ] [ 15 ] KFC employs two different firms, Griffith Laboratories and McCormick & Company , to formulate the blend; to maintain secrecy, each firm is given a different half of the recipe. Once the Griffith portion has been formulated, it is sent to McCormick and combined with the remaining ingredients there. [ 16 ] In 1983, William Poundstone conducted laboratory research into the coating mix, as described in his book Big Secrets , and claimed that a sample he examined contained only flour , salt , monosodium glutamate and black pepper . [ 17 ] KFC maintains that it still adheres to Sanders' original 1940 recipe. [ 18 ] In Todd Wilbur 's television program Top Secret Recipe , Sanders's former secretary, Shirley Topmiller, revealed that Sanders learned from his mother that sage and savory are good seasonings for chicken. [ 19 ] Also, Winston Shelton, a former friend of Sanders, said that the secret recipe contains Tellicherry black pepper. [ 19 ] It is well attested that Harland Sanders asked Bill Summers of Marion-Kay Spices in Brownstown, Indiana , US to recreate his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. [ 20 ] Sanders recommended the Marion-Kay seasoning to franchisees over the corporate version, as he believed the latter had been made inferior by the corporation's inattention. [ 20 ] Following Sanders' passing, KFC sued Marion-Kay in 1982, and the latter was forbidden from selling its mixture to KFC franchises as a result. [ 20 ] The Marion-Kay seasoning is still sold under the name "99-X", and according to Sanders biographer Josh Ozersky , it is indistinguishable from the original KFC recipe. [ 20 ] Joe Ledington In August 2016, the Chicago Tribune reported that Joe Ledington of Kentucky, a nephew by marriage of Colonel Sanders, had claimed to have found a copy of the original KFC fried chicken recipe on a handwritten piece of paper in an envelope in a scrapbook. [ 21 ] Tribune staffers conducted a cooking test of this recipe, which took several attempts to get right. [ 21 ] They had to determine whether the "Ts" meant tablespoons or teaspoons . [ 21 ] After some trial and error, they decided the chicken should be soaked in buttermilk and coated once in the breading mixture, then fried in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) in a pressure fryer until golden brown. As a pressure fryer was too big, a deep fryer was used alternatively as a substitute. They also claimed that, with the addition of MSG as a flavor enhancer, they could produce fried chicken which tasted "indistinguishable" from fried chicken that they had purchased at KFC. [ 21 ] The recipe found by Joe Ledington reads as follows: [ 21 ] 11 Spices – Mix With 2 Cups White Fl. 1) 2 ⁄ 3 T.s Salt 2) 1 ⁄ 2 Ts Thyme 3) 1 ⁄ 2 Ts Basil 4) 1 ⁄ 3 Ts Origino [ sic ] 5) 1 Ts Celory Salt [ sic ] 6) 1 Ts Black Pepper 7) 1 Ts Dried Mustard 8) 4 Ts Paprika 9) 2 Ts Garlic Salt 10) 1 Ts Ground Ginger 11) 3 Ts White Pepper While Ledington expressed uncertainty that the recipe was the Original Recipe, he had a hand in mixing the Original Recipe for Colonel Sanders when he was a young boy, and recalled that white pepper was a principal ingredient. [ 21 ] References ^ a b Whitworth, William (February 14, 1970). "Kentucky-Fried" . The New Yorker . Retrieved April 18, 2015 . ^ Schreiner, Bruce (July 23, 2005). "KFC still guards Colonel's secret" . Associated Press . Archived from the original on November 6, 2013 . Retrieved September 19, 2013 . ^ Kleber, John E.; Thomas D. Clark; Lowell H. Harrison; James C. Klotter (June 1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia . University Press of Kentucky . p. 796. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0 . ^ Sanders, Harland (2012). The Autobiography of the Original Celebrity Chef (PDF) . Louisville: KFC. p. 42. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2013. ^ Okawara, Takeshi (Summer 1993). "Universality and particularity in globalization". Business Quarterly . 57 (4): 128– 134. ^ a b Chartrand, Sandra (February 5, 2001). "Patents; Many companies will forgo patents in an effort to safeguard their trade secrets" . New York Times . Retrieved September 27, 2013 . ^ Hovey, C. (2002). The Patent Process: A Guide to Intellectual Property for the Information Age . Wiley. p. 243. ISBN 978-0-471-44217-2 . Retrieved November 7, 2017 . ^ Darden, Robert (January 1, 2004). Secret Recipe: Why Kfc Is Still Cooking After 50 Years . Tapestry Press. pp. 12, 57– 58, 101, 159, 175, 211. ISBN 978-1-930819-33-7 . ^ Thomas, R. David (October 1, 1992). Dave's Way: A New Approach to Old-Fashioned Success . Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-425-13501-3 . Retrieved April 4, 2013 . ^ "It pays to understand law on trade secrets" . Business First . February 26, 2001 . Retrieved February 22, 2013 . ^ "KFC on lookout for fowl play" . Los Angeles Times . September 10, 2008 . Retrieved September 27, 2013 . ^ Schreiner, Bruce. "Kentucky Fried Chicken marks 50th anniversary of first franchise" . Associated Press . Retrieved July 21, 2012 . ^ a b "Corporate Espionage; Secrets and lies". Brand Strategy . October 9, 2006. ^ Brady, Diane (March 29, 2012). "KFC's Big Game of Chicken" . Businessweek . Archived from the original on January 15, 2013 . Retrieved July 1, 2012 . ^ "Colonel's Secret Recipe Gets Bodyguards" . CNBC . Associated Press. September 9, 2008. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013 . Retrieved January 31, 2013 . ^ Crossan, Rob (April 26, 2012). "The A to Z of fried chicken". The Times . Times Newspapers. ^ Poundstone, William (1983). Big Secrets . William Morrow. pp. 20–21 . ISBN 0-688-04830-7 . ^ Choi, Candice (August 26, 2013). "Is Coke's 127-year-old recipe the same? Not quite" . Houston Chronicle . Retrieved October 1, 2013 . ^ a b "KFC" . Top Secret Recipe . Season 1. Episode 101. 2011. Viacom. CMT. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011 . Retrieved October 1, 2013 . ^ a b c d Ozersky, Josh (April 2012). Colonel Sanders and the American Dream . University of Texas Press. pp. 95– 96. ISBN 978-0-292-74285-7 . ^ a b c d e f Dodrill, Tara (August 19, 2016). "KFC recipe revealed? Tribune shown family scrapbook with 11 herbs and spices" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved August 23, 2016 .
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[o]") ## Contents move to sidebar hide - [(Top)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe) - [1 History](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#History) - [2 Recipes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#Recipes) Toggle Recipes subsection - [2\.1 Joe Ledington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#Joe_Ledington) - [3 References](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#References) Toggle the table of contents # KFC Original Recipe 9 languages - [Català](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recepta_original_de_KFC "Recepta original de KFC – Catalan") - [Čeština](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C5%AFvodn%C3%AD_recept_KFC "Původní recept KFC – Czech") - [Español](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receta_original_de_KFC "Receta original de KFC – Spanish") - [Jawa](https://jv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Res%C3%A8p_Asli_KFC "Resèp Asli KFC – Javanese") - [한국어](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%98%A4%EB%A6%AC%EC%A7%80%EB%84%90_%EC%B9%98%ED%82%A8 "오리지널 치킨 – Korean") - [Simple English](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe "KFC Original Recipe – Simple English") - [ไทย](https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B9%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B1%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9F%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%B5 "สูตรดั้งเดิมของเคเอฟซี – Thai") - [粵語](https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%B6%E9%84%89%E9%9B%9E "家鄉雞 – Cantonese") - [中文](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%82%AF%E5%BE%B7%E5%9F%BA%E5%8E%9F%E5%91%B3%E7%82%B8%E9%9B%9E%E9%85%8D%E6%96%B9 "肯德基原味炸雞配方 – Chinese") [Edit links](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q16988974#sitelinks-wikipedia "Edit interlanguage links") - [Article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe "View the content page [c]") - [Talk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:KFC_Original_Recipe "Discuss improvements to the content page [t]") English - [Read](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe) - [View source](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=KFC_Original_Recipe&action=edit "This page is protected. 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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Secret blend of ingredients used in KFC fried chicken [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/KFC_Original_Recipe_chicken_in_bucket.jpg/250px-KFC_Original_Recipe_chicken_in_bucket.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KFC_Original_Recipe_chicken_in_bucket.jpg) KFC Original Recipe chicken The KFC Original Recipe is a [secret mix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_ingredient "Secret ingredient") of ingredients that [fast food restaurant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_food_restaurant "Fast food restaurant") chain [KFC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC "KFC") uses to produce [fried chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fried_chicken "Fried chicken"). The [Claudia Sanders Dinner House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia_Sanders_Dinner_House "Claudia Sanders Dinner House") is the only other restaurant that serves an authorized version of the recipe. By the very late 1930s, [Harland Sanders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harland_Sanders "Harland Sanders")' [gas station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filling_station "Filling station") in [Corbin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbin,_Kentucky "Corbin, Kentucky"), [Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky "Kentucky") was so well known for its fried chicken that Sanders decided to remove the gas pumps and build a restaurant and motel in their place. While perfecting his secret recipe with 11 herbs and spices, Sanders found that [pan frying](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_frying "Pan frying") chicken was too slow, requiring 30 minutes per order. Deep frying the chicken required half the time but produced dry, unevenly done chicken. In 1939, he found that using a [pressure fryer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure_frying "Pressure frying") produced tasty, moist chicken in eight or nine minutes.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-whitworth19700214-1) By July 1940, Sanders finalized what came to be known as his Original Recipe.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-july1940-2) After Sanders formed a partnership with [Pete Harman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Harman "Pete Harman"), they began marketing the chicken in the 1950s as [Kentucky Fried Chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Fried_Chicken "Kentucky Fried Chicken"); the company shipped the spices already mixed to restaurants to preserve the recipe's secrecy.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-whitworth19700214-1) He claimed that the ingredients "stand on everybody's shelf".[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-13-3)[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-celebritychef2-4) Sanders used [vegetable oil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable_oil "Vegetable oil") for frying chicken. By 1993, for economic reasons, many KFC outlets had chosen to use a blend of palm and soybean oil. In Japan, the oil used is mainly the more expensive cottonseed and corn oil, as KFC Japan believes that this offers superior taste quality.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-okawara-5) ## History Main article: [History of KFC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_KFC "History of KFC") Sanders' Original Recipe of "11 herbs and spices" is one of the most famous [trade secrets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_secret "Trade secret") in the catering industry.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Chartrand-6)[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-7) Franchisee [Dave Thomas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Thomas_\(businessman\) "Dave Thomas (businessman)"), better known as the founder of [Wendy's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy%27s "Wendy's"), argued that the secret recipe concept was successful because "everybody wants in on a secret" and former KFC owner [John Y. Brown, Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Y._Brown,_Jr. "John Y. Brown, Jr.") called it "a brilliant marketing ploy."[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Darden1-8)[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated58-9) The [New York Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Times "New York Times") described the recipe as one of the company's most valuable assets.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Chartrand-6) The recipe is not [patented](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent "Patent"), because patents are published in detail and come with [an expiration date](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Term_of_patent "Term of patent"), whereas trade secrets can remain the [intellectual property](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property "Intellectual property") of their holders in perpetuity.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-10) KFC uses its Original Recipe as a means to differentiate its product from its competitors.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated18-11) Early franchisee [Pete Harman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Harman "Pete Harman") credited the chain's popularity to the recipe and the product, and John Y. Brown cites the "incredibly tasty, almost addictive" product as the basis of KFC's staying power.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-51-12) On the other hand, Allen Adamson, [managing director](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managing_director "Managing director") of brand consultancy [Landor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landor_Associates "Landor Associates"), remains unconvinced about the contribution of the secret formula aspect.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-56-13) He argues: "The story may still be part of these companies' folklore, but I'd be surprised if more than 2 percent buy the brand because of it."[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-56-13) ## Recipes A copy of the recipe, signed by Sanders, is stored within a vault at KFC's [Louisville](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisville,_Kentucky "Louisville, Kentucky") headquarters, along with 11 separate vials that each contain one of the ingredients.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated21-14)[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-15) KFC employs two different firms, Griffith Laboratories and [McCormick & Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCormick_%26_Company "McCormick & Company"), to formulate the blend; to maintain secrecy, each firm is given a different half of the recipe. Once the Griffith portion has been formulated, it is sent to McCormick and combined with the remaining ingredients there.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-crossan-16) In 1983, [William Poundstone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Poundstone "William Poundstone") conducted laboratory research into the coating mix, as described in his book [Big Secrets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Secrets "Big Secrets"), and claimed that a sample he examined contained only [flour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_flour "Wheat flour"), [salt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_salt "Table salt"), [monosodium glutamate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate "Monosodium glutamate") and [black pepper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_pepper "Black pepper").[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-pound-17) KFC maintains that it still adheres to Sanders' original 1940 recipe.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-choi-18) In [Todd Wilbur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Wilbur "Todd Wilbur")'s television program Top Secret Recipe, Sanders's former secretary, Shirley Topmiller, revealed that Sanders learned from his mother that [sage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_officinalis "Salvia officinalis") and [savory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_savory "Summer savory") are good seasonings for chicken.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated1-19) Also, Winston Shelton, a former friend of Sanders, said that the secret recipe contains [Tellicherry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassery "Thalassery") black pepper.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated1-19) It is well attested that Harland Sanders asked Bill Summers of Marion-Kay Spices in [Brownstown, Indiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownstown,_Indiana "Brownstown, Indiana"), US to recreate his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) Sanders recommended the Marion-Kay seasoning to franchisees over the corporate version, as he believed the latter had been made inferior by the corporation's inattention.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) Following Sanders' passing, KFC sued Marion-Kay in 1982, and the latter was forbidden from selling its mixture to KFC franchises as a result.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) The Marion-Kay seasoning is still sold under the name "99-X", and according to Sanders biographer [Josh Ozersky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Ozersky "Josh Ozersky"), it is indistinguishable from the original KFC recipe.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) ### Joe Ledington In August 2016, the [Chicago Tribune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribune "Chicago Tribune") reported that Joe Ledington of Kentucky, a nephew by marriage of Colonel Sanders, had claimed to have found a copy of the original KFC fried chicken recipe on a handwritten piece of paper in an envelope in a scrapbook.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) Tribune staffers conducted a cooking test of this recipe, which took several attempts to get right.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) They had to determine whether the "Ts" meant [tablespoons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablespoon "Tablespoon") or [teaspoons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teaspoon "Teaspoon").[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) After some trial and error, they decided the chicken should be soaked in [buttermilk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttermilk "Buttermilk") and coated once in the breading mixture, then fried in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) in a pressure fryer until golden brown. As a pressure fryer was too big, a deep fryer was used alternatively as a substitute. They also claimed that, with the addition of [MSG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate "Monosodium glutamate") as a flavor enhancer, they could produce fried chicken which tasted "indistinguishable" from fried chicken that they had purchased at KFC.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) The recipe found by Joe Ledington reads as follows:[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) > 11 Spices – Mix With 2 [Cups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_\(unit\) "Cup (unit)") [White Fl.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_flour "White flour") > 1) 2⁄3 T.s [Salt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt "Salt") > 2) 1⁄2 Ts [Thyme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyme "Thyme") > 3) 1⁄2 Ts [Basil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil "Basil") > 4) 1⁄3 Ts [Origino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregano "Oregano") \[[sic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sic "Sic")\] > 5) 1 Ts [Celory Salt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celery_salt "Celery salt") \[[sic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sic "Sic")\] > 6) 1 Ts [Black Pepper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Pepper "Black Pepper") > 7) 1 Ts [Dried Mustard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_seed "Mustard seed") > 8) 4 Ts [Paprika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paprika "Paprika") > 9) 2 Ts [Garlic Salt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlic_salt "Garlic salt") > 10) 1 Ts Ground [Ginger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger "Ginger") > 11) 3 Ts [White Pepper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_pepper "White pepper") While Ledington expressed uncertainty that the recipe was the Original Recipe, he had a hand in mixing the Original Recipe for Colonel Sanders when he was a young boy, and recalled that white pepper was a principal ingredient.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) ## References 1. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-whitworth19700214_1-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-whitworth19700214_1-1) Whitworth, William (February 14, 1970). ["Kentucky-Fried"](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1970/02/14/kentucky-fried). The New Yorker. Retrieved April 18, 2015. 2. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-july1940_2-0)* Schreiner, Bruce (July 23, 2005). ["KFC still guards Colonel's secret"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131106024339/http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/072305/bus_19314459.shtml). Associated Press. Archived from [the original](http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/072305/bus_19314459.shtml) on November 6, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013. 3. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-13_3-0) Kleber, John E.; Thomas D. Clark; Lowell H. Harrison; James C. Klotter (June 1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. [University Press of Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_Press_of_Kentucky "University Press of Kentucky"). p. 796. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0-8131-1772-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8131-1772-0 "Special:BookSources/0-8131-1772-0") . 4. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-celebritychef2_4-0) Sanders, Harland (2012). [The Autobiography of the Original Celebrity Chef](https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055011/https://s3.amazonaws.com/colcookbook/us/pdf/English_FullBook.pdf) (PDF). Louisville: KFC. p. 42. Archived from [the original](https://s3.amazonaws.com/colcookbook/us/pdf/English_FullBook.pdf) (PDF) on September 21, 2013. 5. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-okawara_5-0) Okawara, Takeshi (Summer 1993). "Universality and particularity in globalization". Business Quarterly. 57 (4): 128–134\. 6. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Chartrand_6-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Chartrand_6-1) Chartrand, Sandra (February 5, 2001). ["Patents; Many companies will forgo patents in an effort to safeguard their trade secrets"](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/05/business/patents-many-companies-will-forgo-patents-effort-safeguard-their-trade-secrets.html?n=Top%2FNews%2FTechnology%2FColumns%2FPatents). New York Times. Retrieved September 27, 2013. 7. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-7)* Hovey, C. (2002). [The Patent Process: A Guide to Intellectual Property for the Information Age](https://books.google.com/books?id=aulUAAAAMAAJ). Wiley. p. 243. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-471-44217-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-471-44217-2 "Special:BookSources/978-0-471-44217-2") . Retrieved November 7, 2017. 8. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Darden1_8-0) Darden, Robert (January 1, 2004). Secret Recipe: Why Kfc Is Still Cooking After 50 Years. Tapestry Press. pp. 12, 57–58, 101, 159, 175, 211. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-1-930819-33-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-930819-33-7 "Special:BookSources/978-1-930819-33-7") . 9. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated58_9-0) Thomas, R. David (October 1, 1992). [Dave's Way: A New Approach to Old-Fashioned Success](https://books.google.com/books?id=Y1j8bD6SQrAC). Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. p. 82. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-425-13501-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-425-13501-3 "Special:BookSources/978-0-425-13501-3") . Retrieved April 4, 2013. 10. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-10) ["It pays to understand law on trade secrets"](http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2001/02/26/editorial2.html?page=all). Business First. February 26, 2001. Retrieved February 22, 2013. 11. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated18_11-0) ["KFC on lookout for fowl play"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-sep-10-fi-kfc10-story.html). Los Angeles Times. September 10, 2008. Retrieved September 27, 2013. 12. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-51_12-0) Schreiner, Bruce. ["Kentucky Fried Chicken marks 50th anniversary of first franchise"](http://onlineathens.com/stories/081102/bus_20020811016.shtml). Associated Press. Retrieved July 21, 2012. 13. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-56_13-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-56_13-1) "Corporate Espionage; Secrets and lies". Brand Strategy. October 9, 2006. 14. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated21_14-0)* Brady, Diane (March 29, 2012). ["KFC's Big Game of Chicken"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130115170657/http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2012-03-29/kfcs-big-game-of-chicken). Businessweek. Archived from [the original](http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2012-03-29/kfcs-big-game-of-chicken) on January 15, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2012. 15. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-15) ["Colonel's Secret Recipe Gets Bodyguards"](https://www.cnbc.com/2008/09/09/colonels-secret-recipe-gets-bodyguards.html). CNBC. Associated Press. September 9, 2008. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130923032226/http://www.cnbc.com/id/26618866/Colonel039s_Secret_Recipe_Gets_Bodyguards) from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013. 16. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-crossan_16-0) Crossan, Rob (April 26, 2012). "The A to Z of fried chicken". The Times. Times Newspapers. 17. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-pound_17-0) Poundstone, William (1983). [Big Secrets](https://archive.org/details/bigsecretsuncens00poun/page/20). William Morrow. pp. [20–21](https://archive.org/details/bigsecretsuncens00poun/page/20). [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0-688-04830-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-688-04830-7 "Special:BookSources/0-688-04830-7") . 18. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-choi_18-0) Choi, Candice (August 26, 2013). ["Is Coke's 127-year-old recipe the same? Not quite"](http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Is-Coke-s-127-year-old-recipe-the-same-Not-quite-4777106.php). [Houston Chronicle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Chronicle "Houston Chronicle"). Retrieved October 1, 2013. 19. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated1_19-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated1_19-1) ["KFC"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110927063906/http://www.cmt.com/show/top_secret_recipe/episode.jhtml?episodeID=184796#moreinfo). Top Secret Recipe. Season 1. Episode 101. 2011. Viacom. CMT. Archived from [the original](http://www.cmt.com/show/top_secret_recipe/episode.jhtml?episodeID=184796#moreinfo) on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2013. 20. ^ [a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-1) [c](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-2) [d](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-3) Ozersky, Josh (April 2012). Colonel Sanders and the American Dream. University of Texas Press. pp. 95–96\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-292-74285-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-292-74285-7 "Special:BookSources/978-0-292-74285-7") . 21. ^ [a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-1) [c](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-2) [d](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-3) [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-4) [f](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-5) Dodrill, Tara (August 19, 2016). ["KFC recipe revealed? Tribune shown family scrapbook with 11 herbs and spices"](http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/travel/ct-kfc-recipe-revealed-20160818-story.html). [Chicago Tribune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribune "Chicago Tribune"). 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Readable Markdown	[![Page semi-protected](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1b/Semi-protection-shackle.svg/20px-Semi-protection-shackle.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Protection_policy#semi "This article is semi-protected until June 25, 2026 at 16:56 UTC.") From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/KFC_Original_Recipe_chicken_in_bucket.jpg/250px-KFC_Original_Recipe_chicken_in_bucket.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KFC_Original_Recipe_chicken_in_bucket.jpg) KFC Original Recipe chicken The KFC Original Recipe is a [secret mix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_ingredient "Secret ingredient") of ingredients that [fast food restaurant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_food_restaurant "Fast food restaurant") chain [KFC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC "KFC") uses to produce [fried chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fried_chicken "Fried chicken"). The [Claudia Sanders Dinner House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia_Sanders_Dinner_House "Claudia Sanders Dinner House") is the only other restaurant that serves an authorized version of the recipe. By the very late 1930s, [Harland Sanders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harland_Sanders "Harland Sanders")' [gas station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filling_station "Filling station") in [Corbin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbin,_Kentucky "Corbin, Kentucky"), [Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky "Kentucky") was so well known for its fried chicken that Sanders decided to remove the gas pumps and build a restaurant and motel in their place. While perfecting his secret recipe with 11 herbs and spices, Sanders found that [pan frying](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_frying "Pan frying") chicken was too slow, requiring 30 minutes per order. Deep frying the chicken required half the time but produced dry, unevenly done chicken. In 1939, he found that using a [pressure fryer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure_frying "Pressure frying") produced tasty, moist chicken in eight or nine minutes.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-whitworth19700214-1) By July 1940, Sanders finalized what came to be known as his Original Recipe.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-july1940-2) After Sanders formed a partnership with [Pete Harman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Harman "Pete Harman"), they began marketing the chicken in the 1950s as [Kentucky Fried Chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Fried_Chicken "Kentucky Fried Chicken"); the company shipped the spices already mixed to restaurants to preserve the recipe's secrecy.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-whitworth19700214-1) He claimed that the ingredients "stand on everybody's shelf".[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-13-3)[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-celebritychef2-4) Sanders used [vegetable oil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable_oil "Vegetable oil") for frying chicken. By 1993, for economic reasons, many KFC outlets had chosen to use a blend of palm and soybean oil. In Japan, the oil used is mainly the more expensive cottonseed and corn oil, as KFC Japan believes that this offers superior taste quality.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-okawara-5) History Sanders' Original Recipe of "11 herbs and spices" is one of the most famous [trade secrets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_secret "Trade secret") in the catering industry.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Chartrand-6)[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-7) Franchisee [Dave Thomas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Thomas_\(businessman\) "Dave Thomas (businessman)"), better known as the founder of [Wendy's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy%27s "Wendy's"), argued that the secret recipe concept was successful because "everybody wants in on a secret" and former KFC owner [John Y. Brown, Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Y._Brown,_Jr. "John Y. Brown, Jr.") called it "a brilliant marketing ploy."[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Darden1-8)[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated58-9) The [New York Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Times "New York Times") described the recipe as one of the company's most valuable assets.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Chartrand-6) The recipe is not [patented](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent "Patent"), because patents are published in detail and come with [an expiration date](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Term_of_patent "Term of patent"), whereas trade secrets can remain the [intellectual property](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property "Intellectual property") of their holders in perpetuity.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-10) KFC uses its Original Recipe as a means to differentiate its product from its competitors.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated18-11) Early franchisee [Pete Harman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Harman "Pete Harman") credited the chain's popularity to the recipe and the product, and John Y. Brown cites the "incredibly tasty, almost addictive" product as the basis of KFC's staying power.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-51-12) On the other hand, Allen Adamson, [managing director](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managing_director "Managing director") of brand consultancy [Landor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landor_Associates "Landor Associates"), remains unconvinced about the contribution of the secret formula aspect.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-56-13) He argues: "The story may still be part of these companies' folklore, but I'd be surprised if more than 2 percent buy the brand because of it."[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-AutoFE-56-13) Recipes A copy of the recipe, signed by Sanders, is stored within a vault at KFC's [Louisville](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisville,_Kentucky "Louisville, Kentucky") headquarters, along with 11 separate vials that each contain one of the ingredients.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated21-14)[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-15) KFC employs two different firms, Griffith Laboratories and [McCormick & Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCormick_%26_Company "McCormick & Company"), to formulate the blend; to maintain secrecy, each firm is given a different half of the recipe. Once the Griffith portion has been formulated, it is sent to McCormick and combined with the remaining ingredients there.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-crossan-16) In 1983, [William Poundstone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Poundstone "William Poundstone") conducted laboratory research into the coating mix, as described in his book [Big Secrets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Secrets "Big Secrets"), and claimed that a sample he examined contained only [flour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_flour "Wheat flour"), [salt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_salt "Table salt"), [monosodium glutamate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate "Monosodium glutamate") and [black pepper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_pepper "Black pepper").[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-pound-17) KFC maintains that it still adheres to Sanders' original 1940 recipe.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-choi-18) In [Todd Wilbur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Wilbur "Todd Wilbur")'s television program Top Secret Recipe, Sanders's former secretary, Shirley Topmiller, revealed that Sanders learned from his mother that [sage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_officinalis "Salvia officinalis") and [savory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_savory "Summer savory") are good seasonings for chicken.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated1-19) Also, Winston Shelton, a former friend of Sanders, said that the secret recipe contains [Tellicherry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassery "Thalassery") black pepper.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-autogenerated1-19) It is well attested that Harland Sanders asked Bill Summers of Marion-Kay Spices in [Brownstown, Indiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownstown,_Indiana "Brownstown, Indiana"), US to recreate his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) Sanders recommended the Marion-Kay seasoning to franchisees over the corporate version, as he believed the latter had been made inferior by the corporation's inattention.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) Following Sanders' passing, KFC sued Marion-Kay in 1982, and the latter was forbidden from selling its mixture to KFC franchises as a result.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) The Marion-Kay seasoning is still sold under the name "99-X", and according to Sanders biographer [Josh Ozersky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Ozersky "Josh Ozersky"), it is indistinguishable from the original KFC recipe.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Ozersky2-20) Joe Ledington In August 2016, the [Chicago Tribune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribune "Chicago Tribune") reported that Joe Ledington of Kentucky, a nephew by marriage of Colonel Sanders, had claimed to have found a copy of the original KFC fried chicken recipe on a handwritten piece of paper in an envelope in a scrapbook.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) Tribune staffers conducted a cooking test of this recipe, which took several attempts to get right.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) They had to determine whether the "Ts" meant [tablespoons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablespoon "Tablespoon") or [teaspoons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teaspoon "Teaspoon").[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) After some trial and error, they decided the chicken should be soaked in [buttermilk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttermilk "Buttermilk") and coated once in the breading mixture, then fried in oil at 350 °F (177 °C) in a pressure fryer until golden brown. As a pressure fryer was too big, a deep fryer was used alternatively as a substitute. They also claimed that, with the addition of [MSG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate "Monosodium glutamate") as a flavor enhancer, they could produce fried chicken which tasted "indistinguishable" from fried chicken that they had purchased at KFC.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) The recipe found by Joe Ledington reads as follows:[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) > 11 Spices – Mix With 2 [Cups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_\(unit\) "Cup (unit)") [White Fl.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_flour "White flour") > 1) 2⁄3 T.s [Salt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt "Salt") > 2) 1⁄2 Ts [Thyme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyme "Thyme") > 3) 1⁄2 Ts [Basil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil "Basil") > 4) 1⁄3 Ts [Origino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregano "Oregano") \[[sic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sic "Sic")\] > 5) 1 Ts [Celory Salt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celery_salt "Celery salt") \[[sic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sic "Sic")\] > 6) 1 Ts [Black Pepper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Pepper "Black Pepper") > 7) 1 Ts [Dried Mustard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_seed "Mustard seed") > 8) 4 Ts [Paprika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paprika "Paprika") > 9) 2 Ts [Garlic Salt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlic_salt "Garlic salt") > 10) 1 Ts Ground [Ginger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger "Ginger") > 11) 3 Ts [White Pepper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_pepper "White pepper") While Ledington expressed uncertainty that the recipe was the Original Recipe, he had a hand in mixing the Original Recipe for Colonel Sanders when he was a young boy, and recalled that white pepper was a principal ingredient.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_note-Dodrill-21) References 1. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-whitworth19700214_1-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-whitworth19700214_1-1) Whitworth, William (February 14, 1970). ["Kentucky-Fried"](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1970/02/14/kentucky-fried). The New Yorker. Retrieved April 18, 2015. 2. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-july1940_2-0)* Schreiner, Bruce (July 23, 2005). ["KFC still guards Colonel's secret"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131106024339/http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/072305/bus_19314459.shtml). Associated Press. Archived from [the original](http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/072305/bus_19314459.shtml) on November 6, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013. 3. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-13_3-0) Kleber, John E.; Thomas D. Clark; Lowell H. Harrison; James C. Klotter (June 1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. [University Press of Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_Press_of_Kentucky "University Press of Kentucky"). p. 796. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0-8131-1772-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8131-1772-0 "Special:BookSources/0-8131-1772-0") . 4. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-celebritychef2_4-0) Sanders, Harland (2012). [The Autobiography of the Original Celebrity Chef](https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055011/https://s3.amazonaws.com/colcookbook/us/pdf/English_FullBook.pdf) (PDF). Louisville: KFC. p. 42. Archived from [the original](https://s3.amazonaws.com/colcookbook/us/pdf/English_FullBook.pdf) (PDF) on September 21, 2013. 5. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-okawara_5-0) Okawara, Takeshi (Summer 1993). "Universality and particularity in globalization". Business Quarterly. 57 (4): 128–134\. 6. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Chartrand_6-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Chartrand_6-1) Chartrand, Sandra (February 5, 2001). ["Patents; Many companies will forgo patents in an effort to safeguard their trade secrets"](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/05/business/patents-many-companies-will-forgo-patents-effort-safeguard-their-trade-secrets.html?n=Top%2FNews%2FTechnology%2FColumns%2FPatents). New York Times. Retrieved September 27, 2013. 7. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-7)* Hovey, C. (2002). [The Patent Process: A Guide to Intellectual Property for the Information Age](https://books.google.com/books?id=aulUAAAAMAAJ). Wiley. p. 243. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-471-44217-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-471-44217-2 "Special:BookSources/978-0-471-44217-2") . Retrieved November 7, 2017. 8. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Darden1_8-0) Darden, Robert (January 1, 2004). Secret Recipe: Why Kfc Is Still Cooking After 50 Years. Tapestry Press. pp. 12, 57–58, 101, 159, 175, 211. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-1-930819-33-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-930819-33-7 "Special:BookSources/978-1-930819-33-7") . 9. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated58_9-0) Thomas, R. David (October 1, 1992). [Dave's Way: A New Approach to Old-Fashioned Success](https://books.google.com/books?id=Y1j8bD6SQrAC). Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. p. 82. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-425-13501-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-425-13501-3 "Special:BookSources/978-0-425-13501-3") . Retrieved April 4, 2013. 10. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-10) ["It pays to understand law on trade secrets"](http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2001/02/26/editorial2.html?page=all). Business First. February 26, 2001. Retrieved February 22, 2013. 11. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated18_11-0) ["KFC on lookout for fowl play"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-sep-10-fi-kfc10-story.html). Los Angeles Times. September 10, 2008. Retrieved September 27, 2013. 12. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-51_12-0) Schreiner, Bruce. ["Kentucky Fried Chicken marks 50th anniversary of first franchise"](http://onlineathens.com/stories/081102/bus_20020811016.shtml). Associated Press. Retrieved July 21, 2012. 13. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-56_13-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-AutoFE-56_13-1) "Corporate Espionage; Secrets and lies". Brand Strategy. October 9, 2006. 14. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated21_14-0)* Brady, Diane (March 29, 2012). ["KFC's Big Game of Chicken"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130115170657/http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2012-03-29/kfcs-big-game-of-chicken). Businessweek. Archived from [the original](http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2012-03-29/kfcs-big-game-of-chicken) on January 15, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2012. 15. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-15) ["Colonel's Secret Recipe Gets Bodyguards"](https://www.cnbc.com/2008/09/09/colonels-secret-recipe-gets-bodyguards.html). CNBC. Associated Press. September 9, 2008. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130923032226/http://www.cnbc.com/id/26618866/Colonel039s_Secret_Recipe_Gets_Bodyguards) from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013. 16. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-crossan_16-0) Crossan, Rob (April 26, 2012). "The A to Z of fried chicken". The Times. Times Newspapers. 17. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-pound_17-0) Poundstone, William (1983). [Big Secrets](https://archive.org/details/bigsecretsuncens00poun/page/20). William Morrow. pp. [20–21](https://archive.org/details/bigsecretsuncens00poun/page/20). [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0-688-04830-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-688-04830-7 "Special:BookSources/0-688-04830-7") . 18. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-choi_18-0) Choi, Candice (August 26, 2013). ["Is Coke's 127-year-old recipe the same? Not quite"](http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Is-Coke-s-127-year-old-recipe-the-same-Not-quite-4777106.php). [Houston Chronicle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Chronicle "Houston Chronicle"). Retrieved October 1, 2013. 19. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated1_19-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-autogenerated1_19-1) ["KFC"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110927063906/http://www.cmt.com/show/top_secret_recipe/episode.jhtml?episodeID=184796#moreinfo). Top Secret Recipe. Season 1. Episode 101. 2011. Viacom. CMT. Archived from [the original](http://www.cmt.com/show/top_secret_recipe/episode.jhtml?episodeID=184796#moreinfo) on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2013. 20. ^ [a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-1) [c](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-2) [d](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Ozersky2_20-3) Ozersky, Josh (April 2012). Colonel Sanders and the American Dream. University of Texas Press. pp. 95–96\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-292-74285-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-292-74285-7 "Special:BookSources/978-0-292-74285-7") . 21. ^ [a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-1) [c](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-2) [d](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-3) [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-4) [f*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC_Original_Recipe#cite_ref-Dodrill_21-5) Dodrill, Tara (August 19, 2016). ["KFC recipe revealed? Tribune shown family scrapbook with 11 herbs and spices"](http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/travel/ct-kfc-recipe-revealed-20160818-story.html). [Chicago Tribune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribune "Chicago Tribune"). Retrieved August 23, 2016.
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