"If these ribs were so well-liked, why are they now a discontinued KFC menu item we may never see again? Several sources (including employee testimonies) point to the pork shortage of 1973, which led the meat to steadily increase in price throughout the 1980s. The profit margin of KFC's ribs likely went down as pork prices went up, leading the chain to ax the item once it became too expensive to produce."
"KFC's Country Style Ribs haven't been seen in decades, but this discontinued fast food item still has a cult following. Fans across social media have shared their memories of the dish, such as one user on Facebook who wrote, "Our summer maintenance crew at the high school hit up the local KFC for a post-work group dinner [...] featuring these ribs. More than once, we cleaned them out of that day's production.""
KFC sold Country Style Ribs beginning in the 1970s, with some sources noting 1973 and confirmed presence by 1975. The chain marketed thrifty family dinners featuring the ribs, such as nine ribs with salad and rolls for $6.98. Recipes reportedly involved dredging pork spare ribs in KFC's seasoned flour, pressure frying, tossing in barbecue sauce, and warming or baking to set the coating. A 1973 pork shortage and rising pork prices through the 1980s reduced profit margins, prompting KFC to discontinue the ribs. The ribs retain a cult following and memorable customer nostalgia on social media.
Read at Tasting Table
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]