Is KFC gravy vegetarian? – Know more

Admit it; everyone had one of those I-need-KFC-and-nothing-else-can-satiate-this-hunger-monster-inside-me moments. There’s absolutely no limit to the number of KFC cravings you could have in a lifetime. Why? Well, it’s just finger-lickin’ good. Over the many years that the food chain behemoth has been around, they have significantly impacted many and found a place in all hearts. Their very famous and well-known ’11 secret herbs and spices are the key to anyone’s heart- because you all know that the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach! In this article will see, Is KFC gravy vegetarian?

Is KFC gravy vegetarian?

And if you’re wondering about their world-famous gravy- no, it is not vegetarian. It is, after all, a chicken-centered restaurant. So, if you’re a vegetarian at KFC looking to dip your fries into some of that delicious gravy, take a step back- it’s not for you.

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But it’s okay to wonder whether a company that has the word chicken in it sells vegetarian gravy- especially since KFC did go vegan for a while. Didn’t know about that? Here’s more.

KFC and The Vegan Connect

International fried chicken chain KFC launched its vegan chicken bucket all over the USA in January 2022, which coincidentally also happened at the same time as the Vegan-uary movement took shape. With their partnership with Beyond Meat, an American plant-based protein producer, KFC made their entry into vegan foods in 2019. It is this same brand that collaborated with them again to launch the vegan chicken line of food, which included the very popular Beyond Fried Chicken. This was their contribution to people who didn’t want to give up on their comfort food but still wanted to participate in the plant-based protein movement.

However, what made it unsuitable for many vegans is that it was cooked in the same fryers as the chicken. For fear of cross-contamination, it was described as not suitable for vegans or vegetarians. However, there are some franchises that sell their vegan options fried separately from the chicken. The vegan nuggets came as part of a combo that included a pack of fries and a drink. But if you were not up for that, you can make your vegan nuggets a standalone order- like a pack of six or twelve pieces. What is sad about this success story is that it wasn’t permanent. The vegan offerings were only on sale for a limited period, but it is expected to make a comeback.

What’s In a Gravy? Decoding The World-Famous KFC Gravy

As already mentioned in this article, the gravy at Kentucky Fried Chicken is not vegetarian. There is very little information about what goes into the gravy since KFC is quite secretive about its recipes. But it has been discovered that the gravy is not vegetarian. This has to do with the fact that one of the main ingredients used to make this gravy is chicken fat. That’s right. Your favorite gravy is true to the name of the company that sells it. A classic KFC gravy makes use of chicken fat, but that’s not just it! KFC gravy is also made with crumbs and leftovers of the world-famous KFC fried chicken to add to and enhance its taste. 

These are usually crumbs left in the fryer oil and filtered water. The gravy also has gravy powder and water. There are also a few researchers who have spoken to KFC employees and received input on this mystery gravy. Three employees’ testimonies were corroborated and used to figure out that chicken crackling (or chicken fat as we commonly call it) is used in the gravy. Every week, the crumbs and the scrap breading are collected together to make a fresh batch of KFC gravy.

But since chicken crumbs may or may not be available, are they a regular ingredient? There was also a report which stated that if there were no chicken crumbs available on that day, the gravy is made with just the gravy mix and water. If this is the case, then the gravy is vegetarian since the chicken is taken out. However, if you are a strict vegetarian, you may want to skip this gravy on account of the risk that it could contain chicken fat.

If there is no gravy. What Are My Options?

If you are a vegetarian, then a restaurant that has the word chicken in its name probably is never going to be your first option. But, if you ever find yourself at a KFC, then it’s not the wrong place to be for a vegetarian.KFC has a whole line of veggie sides like baked beans, corn on the cob, green beans, and fries. They also sell a killer house-side salad with light Italian dressing, which would be very filling. They also sell veggie burgers if you want a full meal.

But what could replace the gravy? 

There are a lot of vegetarian and vegan condiment and dipping sauce options like the BBQ Dipping sauce, grape jelly packets, ketchup, lemon jelly packet, and strawberry jam packets. Now, the corn on the cob might not be a good choice if you are vegan, as it comes with a lot of butter. So, if you want to buy that, make sure you let them know that you’re not okay with it and emphasize it. A pro tip for you to consider while ordering vegan options is to check out their complete nutrition guide and food allergies details to rule out any possible non-vegan ingredients if they are substitutable.

Conclusion

While the KFC gravy is delicious and is the perfect accompaniment for any dish in the restaurant, you may want to lay it off if you are a pure vegetarian. The possibility of chicken crackling and scraps is always high, so you should not consider it. However, KFC does have some other dipping sauces and condiments like the BBQ dipping sauce, the ketchup, and of course, the mayonnaise which would perfectly suit the vegetarian requirements and taste just as good! So, if you’re a vegetarian at a KFC, check those out instead.

Is KFC gravy vegetarian? – Know more

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