A viral TikTok video has sent shockwaves through the fast food community after a user, purporting to be a KFC employee, lifted the lid on the chain's much-loved gravy recipe. The footage, which has amassed hundreds of thousands of views, has sparked a fierce debate online, with many customers expressing disgust and swearing off the product for good.
The Gravy Revelation That Divided The Internet
Beyond the iconic fried chicken, KFC's gravy has long been a fan favourite, with some devotees professing an almost obsessive love for the savoury sauce. However, that affection has been severely tested for many after a UK-based TikTok creator known as @cheddar4.7 posted a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at its preparation. The video, originally shared several years ago but recirculating widely, demonstrates the entire process from start to finish, leaving a significant portion of its audience aghast.
A Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Process
The TikTok worker begins the demonstration with a large pot containing a substance referred to as 'crackling'. According to the creator, this base mixture consists of the "chicken bits that come off while in the fryer," which are subsequently chilled. The process then involves adding water and a packet of proprietary gravy seasoning to this crackling base.
The mixture is vigorously whisked before being placed into an oven for an initial nine-minute cooking period. It is then removed, given a thorough stir, and returned to the oven for a further nine minutes. Once this second round of cooking is complete, the gravy has thickened appropriately and is strained through a sieve to remove any residual lumps, resulting in a smooth consistency.
The final product is then decanted into the chain's recognisable red-lidded containers, labelled, and placed into a heated display unit, where it is kept for service for up to six hours.
Viewer Reactions: Horror Versus Defence
The clip rapidly gained traction online, accumulating over 580,000 views and sparking more than 2,000 comments. The response was profoundly polarised, with a substantial number of viewers expressing outright revulsion.
Many were so appalled they vowed to never consume the gravy again. Comments flooded in, with one viewer stating, "Never having gravy from KFC again." Another simply posted, "That is grim," while a third admitted, "I wish I never saw this." The revelation even prompted one individual to comment, "Thank god I'm vegetarian," highlighting the extent of the dismay.
However, not all reactions were negative. The original poster, @cheddar4.7, actively defended the product, responding to one critic by asserting, "It's actually made in a clean way, I still have it so why shouldn't you?"
Other viewers found the horrified reactions somewhat amusing and naive. One user pointed out, "People in the comments obviously don't understand what gravy is," suggesting the process was not unusual. Another declared, "This is so much better than I thought it was made. Can't imagine what some people in the comments would think if they saw how normal gravy was made," implying the KFC method might be more straightforward or transparent than some home-cooked alternatives.
The Wider Context of Fast Food Secrets
This is not the first time the TikTok account has delved into the inner workings of KFC's kitchen. Additional popular videos on the @cheddar4.7 page feature the same employee revealing the secrets behind other menu items, such as Krushems desserts and the preparation of KFC mini fillets and strips. These revelations continue to fuel public curiosity and debate about the realities of mass-produced fast food, balancing customer appetite for transparency with sometimes uncomfortable truths about production methods.
