How KFC fries finger lickin' chicken

What Fryers Does Kentucky Fried Chicken Use to Fry Chicken?

Starting as a service station stop in Corbin, Ky., Kentucky Fried Chicken has been serving its signature fried chicken for nearly 100 years. The chain now operates more than 24,000 stores around the world, and while KFC achieves its distinct fried chicken flavor with an undisclosed blend of 11 spices, its cooking method is no secret. KFC cooks crispy fried chicken with a juicy interior in commercial pressure fryers. Most of these machines come from Henny Penny or Winston Foodservice, a company founded in collaboration with Colonel Harland Sanders and engineer Winston Shelton, who designed a pressure fryer specifically for the Colonel to improve KFC's chicken frying process.1

How KFC Pressure Fryers Work

Like open-vat fryers, KFC's pressure fryers work by submerging raw, breaded chicken into a vat of oil, but unlike open fryers, pressure fryers can properly cook chicken at oil temperatures lower than the standard 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Layered fryer baskets holding as much as 25 pounds of product are secured under the pressure fryer's lid. During cooking, extra pressure raises the boiling point of water in the product, enabling it to maintain its moisture and cook faster than it would in an open fryer. Rather than handling exposed vats of hot oil, employees simply close the fryer lid, activate the timer, and end up with ready-to-eat fried chicken.

The Benefits of Pressure Fryers

Pressure fryers quickly cook large volumes of chicken with automatic frying cycles that help improve restaurant efficiency without compromising product quality.

  • High-capacity baskets: Hold more than 10 lbs. per batch
  • Pressurized vats: Seal in moisture and lower cook time
  • Large cold zone: Handles 360 lbs. of product before needing oil filtration2
  • Removable racks: Enable accessibility and convenient transfer to holding cabinets
  • Programable controls: Support quick operation and consistency across multiple locations

How KFC Fryers Can Improve Your Commercial Kitchen

Pressure fryers, like those used at KFC, enhance operations looking to quicky serve fried food. Ideal for large foods or proteins that need to maintain their moisture content, these fryers make quick work of breaded chicken, fish, or vegetables, resulting in crispy exteriors and juicy interiors.

Find Pressure Fryers at KaTom to Fry Crispy Chicken

KaTom Restaurant Supply offers a diverse selection of commercial pressure fryers, like those found at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Browse models from Winston, Henny Penny, and BKI to find a pressure fryer that meets your output, oil usage, or energy-saving needs. Learn more about buying a pressure fryer or the types of commercial fryers at KaTom.

References

  1. About Us. Winston Foodservice. Accessed May 2025.
  2. Collectramatic Fryers for Commercial Kitchens. Winston Foodservice. Accessed May 2025.