Well, there are 11 secret herbs and spices........ I'll betcha that Bush's Baked Beans dog knows.

ROFL Shaun!

Good luck. DH hates chicken, never eats it when I cook it so I just don't anymore. Yet, when I am at a loss at what to fix and I look tired, he will quite often suggest we just get takeout at KFC, what do you think of that? He loves the crust, which I yank off and toss.

I checked my "Top Secret Recipe" cookbook and I'll give you what they say.
In 1983 an author named William Poundstone sent a dry sample of KFC chicken to a lab and had it analyzed. The lab only found 4 ingredients; flour, salt, pepper, and MSG. So here is the recipe from the book as follows.

1 egg beaten
2 cups milk
2 cups ap flour
4 TBSP salt
2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp MSG
2 frying chickens with skin, each cut into 8 pieces
6 cups crisco cooking oil for frying-the author uses a pressure cooker for frying the chicken. (He goes on to state that now a days manufacturers do not recommend frying in a pressure cooker.)

Pour the oil into the cooker and over medium heat, heat to 400 degrees.
In a small bowl combine egg and milk. In a separate bowl combine the 4 dry ingredients. Dip each piece of chicken into the milk until fully moistened. Roll the moistened chicken in the flour mixture until completely coated.
In groups of 4 or 5 drop the chicken into the oil and lock the lid in place.
When steam starts to shoot through the pressure release set the timer for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes release the pressure and remove chicken to paper towels or metal rack to drain. Repeat with remaining chicken.

An alternative to the pressure cooker is pan fry or deep fry the chicken for double the cooking time or until golden brown. Good luck! NancyLouise

Here is the text and link (posted comment are interesting and most point to MSG) to a recent newspaper article. One comment brings up the fact that the FDA must know whats in it, but I'm not sure of the legalities of that one.

KFC on lookout for fowl play
The chicken chain hatches a plan to boost security around its famous recipe.
From the Associated Press
From the Associated Press

September 10, 2008

LOUISVILLE, KY. Â Pssst. The secret's out at KFC. Well, sort of.

Col. Harland Sanders' handwritten recipe of 11 herbs and spices was removed Tuesday from safekeeping at Kentucky Fried Chicken's corporate offices for the first time in decades. The temporary relocation is allowing KFC to revamp security around a yellowing sheet of paper that contains one of the country's most famous corporate secrets.

The brand's top executive admitted that his nerves were aflutter despite the tight security he lined up for the operation.

"I don't want to be the president who loses the recipe," KFC President Roger Eaton said. "Imagine how terrifying that would be."

The recipe that launched the chicken chain was placed in a lockbox that was handcuffed to security expert Bo Dietl, who climbed aboard an armored car that whisked away with an escort from off-duty police officers.

Eaton's parting words to Dietl: "Keep it safe."

So important is the 68-year-old concoction that coats the chain's original recipe chicken that only two company executives at any time have access to it. The company refuses to release their names or titles, and it uses multiple suppliers who produce and blend the ingredients but know only a part of the entire contents.

KFC executives said they decided to upgrade security after retrieving the recipe amid preparations to add a new line of original recipe chicken strips.

The recipe has been stashed at the company headquarters for decades and for more than 20 years has been tucked away in a filing cabinet equipped with two combination locks. To reach the cabinet, the keepers of the recipe would first open up a vault and unlock three locks on a door that stood in front of the cabinet.

Vials of the herbs and spices are also stored in the secret filing cabinet.

Others have tried to replicate the recipe, and occasionally someone claims to have found a copy of Sanders' creation. The executive said none have come close, adding the actual recipe would include some surprises.

Sanders developed the formula in 1940 at his tiny restaurant in southeastern Kentucky and used it to launch the KFC chain in the early 1950s.

Larry Miller, a restaurant analyst with RBC Capital Markets, said the recipe's value was "almost an immeasurable thing. It's part of that important brand image that helps differentiate the KFC product."

KFC had a total of 14,892 locations worldwide at the end of 2007.

Here is a link that might be useful: LA Times link

There are for certain more than just salt, pepper, MSG and flour. That lab sure scammed somebody. I will experiment but any good ideas of what to add (to the four)? I figure garlic powder and paprika -- what else?

You can definitely taste the MSG so there is a large amount of that in it. I have a can of MSG that I've had for over 30 years and it still is fine! Wild.

There is lots of salt, some black pepper. The other spices are blended so perfectly that you can't tell them apart. I'm sure there is sage and marjoram. If there is any Rosemary it is very little.

Two things I have learned that makes for better fried chicken: 1) soak it overnight in milk, buttermilk, or even water. Soaking makes it ultramoist, and 2) use lard or crisco for frying it. It's way better than oil. That is, if you want authentic southern fried chicken. Now you can fry it in oil, or bake it, but it won't be southern fried chicken. I found the below copycat recipe, hope it helps you get started making it your way. While tomato soup sounds strage, I bet they were trying to find something with all of the spices they wanted to add. I'd try it, sounds about right. Take care and let us know how it turns out. -Robin
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Original Kentucky Fried Chicken Coating Secret Ingredients

2 envelopes tomato soup mix, preferably Lipton cup-o-soup brand
2 envelopes Italian dressing mix
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons dried chervil (optional, but makes a huge difference in taste)
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon tarragon
1/2 teaspoon sage
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups pancake mix, preferably Bisquick brand (self-rising flour can be substituted, but won't taste as good)

Instructions for Making the Original KFC Recipe

Blend all of the Kentucky Fried Chicken ingredients for the coating in a blender. The fried chicken coating is enough for a whole chicken, cut up. Soak the chicken pieces in buttermilk for at least one hour in the refrigerator. Remove chicken from buttermilk and roll in the chicken coating mixture above. Let chicken sit at room temperature while waiting for the oil to get hot.

Deep fry if possible for the most authentic copy of the original Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe. If that is not possible, use a cast iron skillet. Do not crowd the chicken when placing into the skillet. Use lard or shortening if you really want that original Kentucky Fried Chicken taste. If you're making this chicken recipe, chances are you weren't looking for low-fat, healthy recipes. ;)

Brown the chicken in the skillet on high heat. Then turn down the heat and cover the pan. Cook until the fried chicken is done, about 30 minutes. During the last 5 or 10 minutes, uncover the pan and turn up the heat. This will crisp up the fried chicken. Be careful not to burn the chicken during this last step.

Remove the fried chicken and drain on paper towels. Serve while still hot.

Here is a link that might be useful: copycat recipe

I remember Oprah had someone on a LONG time ago (back when I could stomach Oprah) who claimed you will get perfect results by adding one envelope good seasons dry italian salad dressing mix to the flour.

I personally never tried it.

When I go to KFC I usually just nosh on some cole slaw.

Cheers!
Susie

{{!gwi}}

Shaun, you're so silly. You make me smile! :)

I heard Paul Harvey one day, and he said that there were only 4 ingredients in KFC's famous 11 secret spices recipe. Don't know if it's true or not, but who wouldn't believe the wonderful Paul Harvey, LOL?
Sherry

Just to save someone from re-posting recipes, here's the earlier thread.

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: KFC Original Recipe Please