You know the hot shame you feel when you want to say something mean about one friend to your other friend and accidentally text "Nancy's being such a troll" to the person you're shit-talking? But once it's out of the box you can never put it back in? That's a little bit of how Joe Ledington, nephew of Colonel Harland Sanders, must be feeling right about now.
Ledington's uncle is the Colonel—as in, the guy who came up with KFC's original fried chicken recipe. You might call it marketing, but KFC has made a real thing out of how guarded a secret the recipe is, even going as far as to sue a couple that claimed to have found a handwritten copy of the recipe.
A post shared by Kentucky Fried Chicken (@kfc)
A photo posted by on
Ledington, 67, met with Chicago Tribune writer Jay Jones at the Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum in Corbin, Kentucky, to talk about the newly restored restaurant there. Ledington brought along a family scrapbook and went through the pages reminiscing about his uncle.
Then, he got to the last will and testament of his aunt, which is when shit got really crazy.
Jones spotted handwriting on the back page of the will, and it seemed to list a recipe. He asked Ledington if this could be the recipe.
KFC's secret recipe revealed? Tribune shown family scrapbook with 11 herbs and spices https://t.co/k0ieLSbcPI pic.twitter.com/gg3NygwFqNAugust 19, 2016
"That is the original 11 herbs and spices that were supposed to be so secretive," Ledington said. (He would backpedal later.)
Here's how the recipe read on the document:
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
11 spices — Mix with 2 cups white fl
1) 2/3 Ts salt
2) 1/2 Ts thyme
3) 1/2 Ts basil
4) 1/3 Ts oregano
5) 1 Ts celery salt
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
Jones followed up with Yum! Brands, KFC's parent company, to check on the veracity of this recipe. They didn't confirm or deny, only saying, "Lots of people through the years have claimed to discover or figure out the secret recipe, but no one's ever been right."
Hmmmm, okay.
A spokesperson then told the New York Times, "Many people have made these claims over the years and no one has been accurate—this one isn't either."
Of course, the Tribune test kitchen tried the recipe and compared it with the real thing. "How was it? Well, really good. In fact, tasters agreed the test kitchen fried chicken was even better than the Colonel's," wrote Joe Gray. And when the test kitchen added some MSG to that blend of 11 herbs and spices, they had an identical match on their hands. Which I guess means that the handwritten recipe on Ledington's aunt's will isn't "accurate" but it's pretty much there.
So, try it for yourself, or...do what I would do and hit the drive-through for some KFC fried chicken. It's way easier.
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
Helin Jung is a writer and editor based in Los Angeles. She was formerly the executive lifestyle editor of Cosmopolitan.com.
-
Prince Louis Turns 6—See the Adorable New Photo
Princess Kate was behind the lens.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Luke Bryan Trips Over a Fan's Phone During a Show, Jokes "My Lawyer Will Be Calling"
He thought it was hilarious.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Melissa McCarthy Defends Meghan Markle From Critics Who Are "Threatened" by Her
McCarthy once starred in the duchess' 40th birthday video.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Meet the Woman Blending the Traditional and the Modern in French Winemaking
How Florence Haynes combined the traditional and the contemporary for Gratien & Meyer Crémant de Loire.
By Sponsored Published
-
The 9 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers to Level Up With
And no, it's not the same as iced coffee.
By Siena Gagliano Published
-
The 8 Best Mug Warmers to Keep Your Coffee Warm
See ya later, lukewarm lattes.
By Danielle St. Pierre Published
-
5 Best Soda Streams for Convenient Carbonation
Upgrade your sparkling water game with a Soda Stream carbonator that'll fizz up drinks in a flash.
By Zarah A. Kavarana Published
-
5 Best Espresso Machines That’ll Make Barista-Approved Coffee
If your favorite kind of shot is an espresso, these machines will instantly jolt you out of bed for a dream-like brew that can be made right at home.
By Sanah Faroke Published
-
5 Best Rice Cookers That Make More Than Just Carbs
You won’t need to take these with a grain of salt.
By Sanah Faroke Published
-
7 Best Coffee Grinders of 2020, According to Kitchen Pros
The best blade, burr, and manual coffee grinders you can buy.
By Nicole Papantoniou, Good Housekeeping Institute Published
-
5 Best Air Fryers That'll Make More Than Fries
Yes, you do actually need an air fryer.
By Sienna Livermore Published