The popularity of veganism is soaring, with an estimated 79 million vegans worldwide. People are drawn to a plant-based diet for various reasons including health, ethics, environmentalism, and animal welfare. As the demand for vegan options grows, many fast food chains are expanding their menus to cater to vegan customers.
But what about KFC? Are their famous chips (fries) suitable for vegans? Unfortunately for plant-based eaters, the answer is no. Let‘s take a closer look at why KFC chips aren‘t vegan and explore some vegan-friendly alternatives.
Why KFC Chips Aren‘t Considered Vegan
While potatoes are of course vegan, KFC chips aren‘t because of how they‘re prepared. According to KFC‘s website and other sources, their chips are cooked in the same oil as their popcorn chicken. So while the chips themselves don‘t contain any animal products, they come into contact with chicken via the shared fryers. This cross-contamination means the chips aren‘t suitable for vegans.
As KFC explains, "We don‘t offer the Vegan Burger as a meal because our fries aren‘t suitable for vegetarians or vegans, due to being cooked in the same oil as our Popcorn Chicken. We know this is disappointing, but both our Vegan Burger and fries are cooked in the same oil as our chicken to ensure it still tastes the same great tasting KFC chips we know and love."
So there you have it – KFC‘s official stance is that their chips aren‘t vegan or even vegetarian. As a vegan myself, I certainly wish KFC would offer a plant-based fry option cooked separately from meat products. But I understand the logistical challenges of doing so across thousands of restaurant locations. Segregating vegan items would require new equipment, staff training, and quality control measures. KFC may determine it‘s not feasible or cost-effective at this time.
The silver lining is that KFC acknowledges the growing demand for vegan options and continues to introduce new plant-based choices to their menu. Change takes time, but I‘m hopeful a vegan chip offering is on the horizon.
Are KFC Wedges Vegan?
Sadly, no. Just like the regular chips, KFC‘s potato wedges are also cooked in the same fryers as chicken, so they aren‘t vegan either. The wedges themselves contain non-vegan ingredients as well, such as whey and milk.
So vegans will need to skip the chips and wedges at KFC. However, there are still some tasty plant-based options worth trying! Let‘s review them below.
Vegan Options at KFC
While we established that the chips and wedges at KFC aren‘t vegan-friendly, you do still have some solid choices if you find yourself at this popular chicken chain:
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KFC Original Recipe Vegan Burger – This is KFC‘s flagship vegan offering that launched in 2020. It features a bespoke Quorn fillet that‘s coated in the Colonel‘s Original Recipe herbs and spices, served with vegan mayonnaise and iceberg lettuce on a soft glazed bun.
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BBQ Baked Beans – KFC‘s baked beans are vegan as they don‘t contain any animal products. They‘re slowly simmered with brown sugar, tomato puree, and spices for a sweet and savory side dish.
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Corn on the Cob – Corn is another vegan-friendly side available at KFC. The cob is simply seasoned with salt and pepper. Just be sure to ask for it without butter to keep it fully plant-based.
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Green Beans – Enjoy a serving of green beans sautéed with onions, red bell peppers, and spices. Note that at some KFC locations, the beans may contain bacon, so always check with the staff.
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House Side Salad – The house salad features crisp lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers for a light and refreshing option. Just opt for the Golden Italian Light dressing to keep it vegan.
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Mazetti Light Italian Dressing
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Applesauce
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Ketchup, Hot Sauce, BBQ Sauce
So while chips are off the table, you can still piece together a tasty plant-based meal at KFC with the Original Recipe Vegan Burger alongside some veggies, beans, and sauces. Hopefully even more vegan choices are on the way!
Where to Find Vegan Chips Instead of KFC
Now you know that KFC chips and wedges aren‘t vegan, but you may be wondering where you CAN get your plant-based fry fix. More and more fast food joints are answering the call for vegan options – fries included. Check out these chains:
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McDonald‘s – The fries and hash browns at the Golden Arches are vegan. The fries are cooked in vegetable oil and the hash browns contain no animal products.
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Burger King – Most Burger King locations cook their fries separately from animal products, keeping them safe for vegans.
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Wendy‘s – Wendy‘s fries, baked potatoes, and sweet potatoes are all vegan. The fries are cooked in vegetable oil and the potatoes are simply seasoned with salt and pepper.
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Five Guys – While the fries at Five Guys are vegan-friendly since they‘re cooked in 100% peanut oil, the kitchen itself has a high risk of cross contamination as there are no segregated cooking surfaces.
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Taco Bell – Taco Bell fries are certified vegan as they contain no animal ingredients and are fried in canola oil away from meat products. The cinnamon twists, chips, guacamole, and pico de gallo are vegan too.
You can also find plenty of vegan chips at most major grocery store chains, either in the snack aisle or healthy/natural foods section. Whole Foods, Trader Joe‘s, and local health food markets tend to have the widest selection of plant-based chips and fries in various flavors. As always, check the ingredients to verify no animal products like whey, milk, or honey are used.
How Vegan Chips Are Made
Have you ever wondered how vegan chips differ from traditional ones? The main distinction is the type of oil used for frying. Vegan chips are cooked in vegetable-based oils like corn, sunflower, canola, or coconut rather than animal fat.
The process starts with washing and cutting potatoes (usually russet, yellow, or sweet) into thin slices or wedges. The potato pieces are soaked in water to release excess starch, then thoroughly dried. Next comes the first fry, known as blanching, in oil heated to around 325°F for a few minutes. This initial cooking softens the chips and seals the exterior.
After blanching, the chips are drained, cooled, and fried a second time at a higher temperature of about 350°F until they‘re golden and crispy. The twice-fried chips are tossed with salt or seasoning, then served hot and fresh. For packaged chips, the cooling step is longer to allow the fries to breathe and stay ideal for bagging.
Some recipes call for soaking the raw potato slices in vinegar water instead of plain water before frying. The vinegar helps the chips develop a desirable tangy flavor and crispier texture once cooked. Baked chips go through a similar preparation process but are dried and baked in the oven rather than deep fried.
The main things that make chips vegan are the oil used and the lack of animal-based seasonings like cheese, sour cream, or honey mustard powders. But in general, the cooking method is quite similar to non-vegan chips. The goal is to achieve that satisfying crunch and golden hue.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it – an in-depth look at whether KFC chips are vegan. We‘ve determined that sadly, the chips and wedges at KFC are not suitable for a vegan lifestyle due to cross contamination with chicken and the presence of animal-derived ingredients. However, KFC does have several vegan options on their menu like the Original Recipe Vegan Burger, green beans, corn on the cob, and BBQ baked beans.
If you‘re craving vegan fries, there are plenty of plant-based options available at other fast food chains like McDonald‘s, Burger King, Wendy‘s, and Taco Bell. Always verify how the fries are cooked to avoid potential cross contamination. You can also find an array of vegan chips at most grocery stores in a variety of cuts and flavors.
At the end of the day, I‘m disappointed but not surprised that KFC chips aren‘t vegan. Cross contamination is very common in fast food kitchens that aren‘t exclusively vegan. But I‘m pleased that KFC is making an effort to offer some plant-based options, and I‘m optimistic that a vegan chip offering is on the way.
In the meantime, vote with your dollar by supporting establishments that do offer vegan fries and let KFC know that there‘s a demand for more plant-based fare. Together, we can show businesses that vegan options are important and here to stay.
