For The Freshest KFC Chicken, Get To The Restaurant Around These Times

There's nothing quite like biting into a piece of fried chicken while it's hot, crispy, and fresh. But getting the hottest and freshest chicken often requires good timing. At KFC, for instance, there are reportedly two times a day when your chances of getting chicken fresh from the fryer are at their peak: at opening or just before the dinner rush.

For the choicest chicken, arrive at your local KFC right when it opens. According to alleged employees on Reddit, some KFC locations start cooking chicken one to two hours before opening. Check when your local restaurant opens — which may be around 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. depending on your location — and plan to arrive then. That may seem a little early for chicken, but you'll have a better chance of getting the freshest meal if ordering from the first batches of the day. You may even get some "extra crispy" straight from the fryer.

Ultimately, your early morning order of chicken, complete with KFC's famous herb and spice blend, should offer the hot, crispy texture you're looking for. That said, others have suggested that the other prime time to order KFC chicken is just before the dinner rush. As the evening traffic picks up, employees are likely to prepare more to keep up with the increased demand. Ordering shortly before the dinner rush means you're more likely to get chicken from a fresh batch rather than pieces that have been sitting for a while under a warmer.

There are plenty of ordering tips you can use to get the best chicken at KFC, and two of them are quite simple: Ask for fresh chicken or call ahead. If you've ever been told that "it never hurts to ask," this is one instance where that advice could pay off. As folks online point out, if you ask politely for a fresh batch, there's a better chance your wish will be granted.

Calling ahead can also increase your chances here. As one Reddit user explained, KFC may not fry fresh chicken for small orders, but your location may fry a fresh batch for larger, family-style meals — though be warned, this may take close to a half hour. "I can time my cooking if you call ahead," added the alleged employee. If a larger order is being cooked and there's extra chicken, you may be able to snag a fresh piece. Of course, you could also call and inquire about the next time the oil will be filtered or when a new batch will be made.

So, the next time you're craving KFC, don't leave things to chance. A quick call to your local location or a polite request for a fresh batch could be worth the extra effort for crispy, crunchy, fresh-from-the-fryer chicken. Otherwise, you're best arriving right when the doors open.