Ever bitten into a juicy piece of KFC chicken and wondered “What breed of chicken am I actually eating right now?” You’re not alone! I’ve been curious about this myself and after digging into some research, I’m ready to share the finger-lickin’ truth about KFC’s chicken breeds.
The KFC Chicken Mystery: No Secret Special Breed
Despite what internet rumors might have you believe, KFC doesn’t use some special, secret chicken breed that Colonel Sanders discovered while traveling the world. The reality is much more straightforward:
KFC doesn’t use a specific, proprietary breed of chicken. Instead, they source their chicken from various commercial broiler breeds, focusing on weight, size, and efficient meat production rather than a particular lineage.
The popular myth that KFC uses genetically modified “super chickens” is just that – a myth. The truth aligns with standard practices in the commercial poultry industry.
What Chicken Breeds Does KFC Actually Use?
KFC relies on trusted suppliers who raise chickens specifically bred for
- Rapid growth
- High yields of breast and thigh meat (the most popular cuts)
- Efficient feed conversion
- Disease resistance
The common broiler breeds used by KFC suppliers typically include
- Cobb-Vantress
- Ross
- Hubbard
These aren’t exotic breeds – they’re the standard workhorses of the commercial chicken industry. They’ve been selectively bred over decades to grow quickly and produce a lot of meat efficiently.
Why KFC Doesn’t Use Just One Breed
There are several smart business reasons why KFC sources from multiple breeds:
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Supply Chain Security: Using various suppliers and breeds ensures a more resilient supply chain. If one supplier has problems, KFC can still maintain operations.
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Cost Efficiency: Different breeds may offer varying levels of cost-effectiveness depending on market conditions, feed prices, and regional availability.
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Meeting Demand: The sheer volume of chicken needed for KFC’s global operations necessitates a diversified supply chain. No single breed could realistically fulfill that demand consistently.
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Flexibility: Using multiple breeds gives KFC greater adaptability to changing market conditions and consumer preferences.
Where Does KFC Source Its Chicken?
KFC’s chicken sourcing varies by region:
- In the US, they use “100 percent real chicken raised on U.S. farms” that is USDA inspected
- In Canada, they use “real Canadian farm-raised chicken”
- In the UK and Ireland, KFC states that “All of our Original Recipe chicken on the bone is from farms in the UK and Ireland”
However, they do acknowledge that “because demand often outstrips British poultry supply, other menu items may include chicken from trusted and established overseas suppliers.”
Are KFC Chickens Genetically Modified?
This is a common question, and the answer is: No.
While the broiler breeds used by KFC suppliers are the product of selective breeding (a practice used for centuries), they are not genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Selective breeding involves choosing animals with desirable traits to breed together – a natural process. Genetic modification, on the other hand, involves directly altering an organism’s DNA in a laboratory, which is not done with KFC’s chickens.
Does KFC Use Growth Hormones?
Another common concern is whether KFC’s rapid-growing chickens are pumped full of hormones. The answer is: No.
The use of growth hormones in poultry production has been banned in the United States for many years. The rapid growth of broiler breeds is due to selective breeding and optimized feed formulations, not hormone supplementation.
The Life Cycle of a KFC Chicken
The typical broiler chicken used for KFC follows this timeline:
| Age | Stage |
|---|---|
| 0-6 weeks | Growth period |
| 6-9 weeks | Reaches slaughter weight (5-7 pounds) |
| 35 days | Average age when processed for KFC (UK) |
This rapid growth cycle is a key characteristic of commercial broiler breeds. In fact, most of these chickens still cheep and have blue eyes like chicks when they reach slaughter age.
KFC’s Chicken: By the Numbers
The scale of KFC’s chicken usage is staggering:
- More than 750 million chickens are processed for KFC each year
- That’s approximately 2,500,000 chickens every day
- Each chicken is typically cut into 9 pieces
KFC’s Animal Welfare Practices
KFC has faced criticism regarding animal welfare practices. Currently, nearly all chickens raised for KFC are fast-growing breeds that take just 30 days to reach slaughter weight.
However, the company has publicly stated its commitment to improving animal welfare standards throughout its supply chain. They’re working with suppliers to implement more humane practices, such as:
- Providing enrichment opportunities for chickens
- Reducing stocking densities
- Improving overall conditions
Broiler Chickens vs. Laying Hens: What’s the Difference?
It’s worth noting that the chickens used by KFC are completely different from the chickens that produce eggs:
- Broiler chickens (used by KFC) are bred specifically for meat production, characterized by rapid growth and high muscle mass
- Laying hens are bred for egg production and have a longer lifespan
They’re two distinct types of chickens bred for different purposes.
How KFC Prepares Their Chicken
Regardless of the breed, KFC’s chicken preparation helps create their distinctive taste:
- Chicken is pressure cooked at a low temperature
- This preserves moisture, leading to a juicier piece of meat
- Less moisture evaporates during cooking, enhancing the juiciness
- This pressure cooking method is part of what makes KFC chicken unique compared to other fried chicken
Is KFC Chicken Healthy?
While delicious, KFC chicken isn’t winning any health competitions:
- A bucket of fried chicken contains about 3,090 calories
- It’s high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium
- Most KFC outlets fry chicken in hydrogenated shortening, which can contain trans fats
For a healthier option at KFC, their grilled chicken wings are the most nutritious choice at about 70 calories per wing.
KFC’s Fresh vs. Frozen Chicken
Contrary to what some might believe, KFC typically uses fresh, not frozen chicken. According to their representatives, chicken is delivered fresh to KFC restaurants throughout the week, and each piece is inspected by a KFC cook.
This use of fresh chicken contributes to the flavor and quality of their final product.
Why Does KFC Chicken Taste So Good?
Beyond the breed of chicken, KFC’s distinctive taste comes from:
- Their secret blend of 11 herbs and spices
- The pressure-cooking method
- A formulation designed to hit key taste notes: sweet, salty, and umami (savoriness)
The Bottom Line on KFC’s Chicken Breeds
So, what have we learned? KFC doesn’t use some special, exotic breed of mutant chickens. They use the same commercial broiler breeds that dominate the poultry industry, selected for their rapid growth and meat production.
The real “secret” to KFC’s chicken isn’t in some exclusive breed – it’s in their preparation methods, spice blend, and cooking techniques.
Next time you’re enjoying that bucket of Original Recipe, you’ll know you’re eating Cobb, Ross, or Hubbard broiler chickens – the standard breeds that feed much of the world’s appetite for chicken.
How to Store Fried Chicken
Store leftover fried chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for four to five days. Allow the chicken to cool before covering the container, as the chicken retains a crispier coating when the steam isn’t trapped inside.
Reheat fried chicken in a 350° oven for about 15 minutes before bumping it to 400° to crisp the skin. To use an air fryer, preheat the unit to 350°, spray each side of the chicken with cooking spray, and cook, flipping every three minutes until each piece reaches an internal temperature of 165°.
Step 1: Dredge the chicken
In a large shallow dish, combine 2-2/3 cups of the flour with the garlic salt, paprika, 2-1/2 teaspoons of the pepper and the poultry seasoning. In a separate shallow dish, briefly beat the eggs with the water before adding the salt, remaining 1-1/3 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
Dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture and then into the flour mixture. Turn each piece until it is fully coated.
Why KFC Stopped Using “Kentucky” In Their Name (EXPLAINED)
FAQ
What kind of chicken does KFC serve?
They serve Sesame Chicken and General Tso Chicken at A TO Z GROCERY & CHINESE CUISINE. The customers often order these chicken dishes and find them to be delicious. They call in to place their order and then pick it up for takeout.
Does KFC use real chicken?
Yes, KFC uses real chicken. It is farm-raised in Canada and is delivered fresh to KFC restaurants throughout the week. Each individual piece of chicken is carefully inspected by a KFC cook.
Does KFC have fried chicken?
Not So Kentucky Fried Chicken: Although KFC was founded as Sanders Court & Cafe in Corbin, Kentucky in 1930, the first franchise location was opened in Salt Lake City, over 20 years later. Do the Dew: Mountain Dew made a special flavor specifically for drinking with the Colonel’s Original Recipe.
Does KFC use perdue chicken?
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), one of the largest retailers of chicken flesh in the world, touts Perdue as a supplier – even linking to the Perdue site on its “About” page.
Which type of chicken does KFC use?
We use 100 percent real chicken raised on U.S. farms. Our chicken is USDA inspected for quality before it can be delivered to our kitchens.
Where does KFC get their chicken from?
All of our Original Recipe chicken on the bone is from farms in the UK and Ireland.
Is KFC selling lab grown chicken?
No, KFC does not currently use lab-grown chicken in its menu items in the U.S. or globally. KFC did conduct a one-time experiment in Russia in 2020, partnering with a company to 3D print chicken nuggets using chicken cells and plant material, but this was a limited trial and not part of a long-term strategy. KFC primarily uses real, traditional chicken in its restaurants.