Why are ketchup packets so small?

[Rain Man]

I mean, really. Why? One ketchup packet handles two french fries, maybe three. If I'm at McDonald's I have to grab a dozen packets to cover a large order of fries, and it makes me feel like a heel to do it.

And it's not even efficient. There's so little ketchup in each packet that 10 percent ends up on the packet where I tore it open due to surface tension or non-Newtonian flow or some other scientific principle. Who designed these things?

Is the problem me? Do I use too much ketchup? Or is the problem a society that makes me a villain for using ketchup?

[Megatron96]

Shit. I used to know the reason for that. Think I saw it on "How Things Are Made," or something. Dang it, now I'm going to be thinking about that the rest of the day.

[Coach]

I hate small ketchup.

[wazu]

Never really thought about it, but you're absolutely right. It just so happens that the biggest super star athlete in the world probably also agrees with you. Need to get him to speak out for this meaningful cause.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Ketchup is the worst condiment there is, don’t @ me.

[Peter Gibbons]

Have you ever sent someone a pic of your ketchup package?

[New World Order]

This is a great question

[CapsLockKey]

Heinz dip and squeeze packets solve that problem. To bad I've only seen them at a couple places like Culver's and Chick-fil-A.

[DJJasonp]

Great french fries require no condiment!

Steak fries (Red Robin style) require a mix of both mustard and ketchup.

I have spoken.

[kcclone]

I worship ketchup and eat it on steak. So I'm pretty much like Mahomes.

[displacedinMN]

I would think the packets are meant as a to go item. Cuts down on waste
Small doses for carryout. They are a pain to open


I cant eat ketchup anymore. Had a kid that would eat it with a spoon. I was done.
Sorry PM.

[Holladay]

I am with you on the application to fries. Dunk 'em. But one packet is the perfect size when applied to a bun. Much bigger on my burger would result in a messed up shirt, unless it is a red Chiefs shirt.

See that, I made it into a football thread.

[Rain Man]

Heinz dip and squeeze packets solve that problem. To bad I've only seen them at a couple places like Culver's and Chick-fil-A.

Yeah, I was trying to remember where I've seen those. Any restaurant that offers those has me for life.

Well, unless I forget that they do it, of course.

[kcclone]

Heinz dip and squeeze packets solve that problem. To bad I've only seen them at a couple places like Culver's and Chick-fil-A.

Raising Cane's has them as well

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

The Heinz ketchup cups, like you get a Chic-fil-et have more ketchup and are far better.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Raising Cane's has them as well

beat me to it...:thumb:

[KCUnited]

They’re made with cherry tomatoes

[A Salt Weapon]

I worship ketchup and eat it on steak. So I'm pretty much like Mahomes.

You should be our new backup

[sedated]

Great french fries require no condiment!


???

Fries aren't steak, they are just potatoes. Are there any (other) potato products that are eaten completely plain?

[kc rush]

0 ketchup/catsup is gross. BBQ sauce all day.

[Megatron96]

???

Fries aren't steak, they are just potatoes. Are there any (other) potato products that are eaten completely plain?

Chips?

[jettio]

In Amsterdam, people use mayonnaise instead of ketchup for McDonald's fries.

[Rain Man]

In Amsterdam, people use mayonnaise instead of ketchup for McDonald's fries.

Damn metric system.

[Graystoke]

Great for dick pics

[sedated]

Chips?

True.

[Sassy Squatch]

I never knew until recently that you can pull these things apart.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8psAAOSw7mldrc91/s-l300.jpg

[Megatron96]

???

Fries aren't steak, they are just potatoes. Are there any (other) potato products that are eaten completely plain?

And hash browned potatoes.

Think that's it.

In reality, I only use ketchup on fries if the fries aren't very good. Just a little salt is enough for me, most of the time.

My favorite fry condiment has always been cheese sauce.

[sd4chiefs]

When I was in Copenhagen a few years ago people were walking around eating fries with mayo. :Lin:

[ChiefsCountry]

Ketchup is the worst condiment there is, don’t @ me.

https://archive.triblive.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/559758ptrMahomesKetchup122118.jpg

[Why Not?]

Ketchup is the worst condiment there is, don’t @ me.

This. It's okay on fries. On anything else it's trash. My kid dips his chicken nuggets in it. Pretty sure he's actually the yard guy's kid. And when people put it on eggs for breakfast? 50/50 if I can even stay at the table.

[Megatron96]

When I was in Copenhagen a few years ago people were walking around eating fries with mayo. :Lin:

Yep. Saw the same thing when I was there. 'Cept I was in the MCD's, and they handed out mayo packets (bigger for some reason?) to every customer with their meal. Watched people tear off one end of the packet, and then carefully dip their fries into the the mayo and eat them one at a time..

[Why Not?]

https://archive.triblive.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/559758ptrMahomesKetchup122118.jpg

Proof that nobody is perfect.

[Kman34]

If it was in my power... I would give Rainman ketchup for life...

[sedated]

And hash browned potatoes.


I can't say I've ever eaten hash browns plain. Its always with one of ketchup, tabasco, or the runny yolks from eggs

[digger]

https://content.fortune.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ap100204115610.jpg



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[Megatron96]

I can't say I've ever eaten hash browns plain. Its always with one of ketchup, tabasco, or the runny yolks from eggs

Egg yolks and hot sauce. Though i'm partial to Chulula. Stupid friend in college got me started on that.

Also, hash is good on a steak sandwich.

[Bugeater]

Because ketchup is awful and you shouldn't be using it at all.

[Sassy Squatch]

I can't say I've ever eaten hash browns plain. Its always with one of ketchup, tabasco, or the runny yolks from eggs
Over easy eggs on top of breakfast potatoes with Frank's hot.

[Beef Supreme]

I think it probably saves them money because a lot of people just do without rather than fuck with opening a bunch of tiny packets.

[Easy 6]

https://content.fortune.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ap100204115610.jpg



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For a year or two my local Wendys used those double size, bottle shaped packets... I loved them, they were the perfect answer to tiny packets

Must've proven too expensive to maintain or something, who knows

[mlyonsd]

I use ketchup as a garnish on a burger, nothing else. And we've already been thru using it on a hot dog. Never.

[jettio]

Maybe ketchup packet size is related to those occasional stories where someone runs off the road and trapped in the car or gets stuck in a blizzard for several days and the only nutrition was Taco Bell sauce packets left in the car. They survive and Taco Bell gives them free food for a year or the rest of their lives or something.

Maybe the ketchup packets are sized to give small doses of hope to the poor soul who did not leave enough Taco Bell sauce packets in the car to stay alive.

[FlaChief58]

I'm a ketchup lover and used to be Mahomesian in its use. Now I've cut way back for health reasons. I only have it on fries these days. Each packet has 1 serving in it to answer your question.

[KCFalcon59]

I need equally sized portions of ketchup and mayonnaise side by side. I then drag a couple fries through each to get a generous amount of each on the fries. Enjoy

[Chief Pagan]

0 ketchup/catsup is gross. BBQ sauce all day.

Anytime you might use ketchup, BBQ is usually better.

[Frosty]

It's weird but, while I don't care much for ketchup, I eat a ton of it on fries. I don't know how many packs I would use on a typical fast food order of fries but it was a lot.Also, I don't like ketchup on hash browns or tater tots. I usually eat hash browns with only salt on them and I eat tater tots with 1000 Island dressing.

The only other thing I eat ketchup with is those little frozen potato cubes (I think they're called O'Brien potatoes or Southern-style hash browns, depending where you live) that I cook 'til crisp in an air fryer. But to me, those are tiny fries so they seem right with ketchup.

[PunkinDrublic]

I wish they kept the ketchup packets refrigerated. Cold ketchup is a welcome compliment to hot salty fries.

[stevieray]

Because the amount of fries they serve you now is obnoxiously big, compared to years past.

[SuperBowl4]

I hate it when the chiefs fall behind and have to play ketchup

[thabear04]

Ketchup and pepper mixed together.
Ketchup and ranch mixed together.

[cdcox]

I'm a huge ketchup fan, mostly on potatoes, meatloaf, and burgers. We are a Heinz family, but we still call it "Mahomes Sauce."

I don't usually get fries at McDonald's because of the tiny ketchup package issue and I am almost always driving if I'm eating McDonald's. A pack is good for maybe 5 fries.

[cdcox]

For a year or two my local Wendys used those double size, bottle shaped packets... I loved them, they were the perfect answer to tiny packets

Must've proven too expensive to maintain or something, who knows

Wendy's used to have those self-fill tiny cups of ketchup when you ate in. I would use at least 6 of those for a medium fry. Fast food restaurants are uniformly stingy in their ketchup distribution policies. Stingy people have cold hearts.

[stevieray]

Ketchup and pepper mixed together.
Ketchup and ranch mixed together.

Bar-B-Que and ranch is delish!

[cdcox]

I have to open those tiny ketchup packets with my teeth after some teenager has dug their grubby hand in the packet bin a dozen times. Not only do fast food restaurants have a cold heart, but they endanger public health.

Free the Mahomes Sauce!

[Bugeater]

Wendy's used to have those self-fill tiny cups of ketchup when you ate in. I would use at least 6 of those for a medium fry. Fast food restaurants are uniformly stingy in their ketchup distribution policies. Stingy people have cold hearts.Shit, try to get an extra packet or two of their chili sauce out of them sometime.

[srvy]

I have always been a BBQ sauce to dip a fry but Freddy's fry sauce has grown on me. Fresh cut fries require nothing for me but salt.

[ShortRoundChief]

Sir, I do believe, it is to make your hands look large. I have the same theory about your penii.

[srvy]

My wife left the rice farm and took a job sewing in a sweatshop in Manila. When payday came around on a Friday she and the girls would splurge on a small fry at the new Mcdonalds that had just arrived there. Nothing else really sold well at first but french fries. So they add chicken wings to the menu to compete with Jollibee and Crackado took off in the PI.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Heinz dip and squeeze packets solve that problem. To bad I've only seen them at a couple places like Culver's and Chick-fil-A.

This. Newer packets are NOT small. Culver's and Caine's have them here.

[frozenchief]

Packets that do not need to be handed out: ketchup
Packets that are too big: mayonnaise
Packets that are too small: mustard

[PunkinDrublic]

My wife left the rice farm and took a job sewing in a sweatshop in Manila. When payday came around on a Friday she and the girls would splurge on a small fry at the new Mcdonalds that had just arrived there. Nothing else really sold well at first but french fries. So they add chicken wings to the menu to compete with Jollibee and Crackado took off in the PI.

Jollibee is a strange sight to behold. Who puts spaghetti on the menu at a fast food joint?

[Megatron96]

I kind of remember, I think.

the size and shape of the ketchup packet is related to the original machine that made them. I think the guy that originally came up with the ketchup packet was making packets for sugar. Maybe tea. Something like that.

Someone asked him if he could make ketchup packets? So he used basically the same size packet, but put ketchup in there.

And the rest is history. I think.

[kcxiv]

I like Ketchup! for burgers though, its usually half ketchup and half Tapatio sauce. Its what i do. On fries too, but i dont always. just depends on if i feel like it.

[TinyEvel]

Hey Seinfeld, where is Rainman and what have you done with him?

[listopencil]

Yeah, I was trying to remember where I've seen those. Any restaurant that offers those has me for life.

Well, unless I forget that they do it, of course.

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/45/1d/4e/451d4ef5480a33420c57ca364e7cf00f.jpg

LJS (pre COVID) has a condiment table with pumps and paper cups.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Jollibee is a strange sight to behold. Who puts spaghetti on the menu at a fast food joint?
Steak And shake would like a word

[mikeyis4dcats.]

On a related note,am I the only one ho thinks Taco Bell sauce packets contain like half as much as they did 15 years ago?

[seclark]

Back in hs worked at Dairy Queen
Kids would grab a handful of ketchup packets and take them out to the parking lot and jam them under a tire of their car. When they backed out, packets busted and shot ketchup all over the car next to them.
sec

[kccrow]

Gravy and cheese, Eh.

[Stewie]

I used to get a hot dog after playing the front nine. The mustard and relish packets were the perfect amount for a standard dog. I think it's just coincidence since they're the same size as the ketchup packets.

[thabear04]

Jollibee is a strange sight to behold. Who puts spaghetti on the menu at a fast food joint?

Its a Filipino thing that's what they like to do. Spaghetti with some chop up meat and add it.

[Hydrae]

I never knew until recently that you can pull these things apart.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8psAAOSw7mldrc91/s-l300.jpg

Me too! One of those things that are done for a purpose but few people even know about that purpose. I use that just to expand the cup, it makes dipping much easier. This guy only opens 1/2 of the folds to get more into each cup:

https://tiphero.com/ketchup-cup-tip

[Gary Cooper]

McDonalds fries are so good that ketchup is unnecessary. Sadly, it took me too long to figure that out.

As far as using ketchup on fries at other places, "it depends."

[Molitoth]

4 - Fries are good. Ketchup is good. Together they're great.



Fries and a multitude of condiments are great.

BBQ, Ketchup, Spicey Ketchup, Mustard, Honey Mustard, Ranch, Fry Sauce, etc..

Please give me all of them.

[Baby Lee]

Great french fries require no condiment!

Steak fries (Red Robin style) require a mix of both mustard and ketchup.

I have spoken.

You are RIGHT THERE!!! So close!!

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/7913c2fb-2fe8-4ef5-8675-16338b5fb0df_1.8cac19d77e5f46afe11e5ee15db1cc5a.jpeg?odnWidth=undefined&odnHeight=undefined&odnBg=ffffff

[ptlyon]

McDonalds fries are so good that ketchup is unnecessary. Sadly, it took me too long to figure that out.

As far as using ketchup on fries at other places, "it depends."

This. And McDonald's fries must be eaten immediately out of the bag piping hot.

Worked with a guy that would order his fries unsalted with a pack of salt on the side so he knew they had just come out of the fryer.

[morphius]

McD's (hot) and Joes don't need Ketchup
Chik-Fil-a, Wendys, Culvers, and Freddys better with Ketchup
Burger King has to have Ketchup

[Brody Wa]

I’ll take mustard all day long over ketchup.

[Megatron96]

McD's (hot) and Joes don't need Ketchup
Chik-Fil-a, Wendys, Culvers, and Freddys better with Ketchup
Burger King has to have Ketchup

Best way to have BK fries is to take them to the nearest trashcan and toss them, then go directly the nearest McD's (caddy corner probably) and buy a large fries.

[Fish]

McDonalds fries are so good that ketchup is unnecessary. Sadly, it took me too long to figure that out.

As far as using ketchup on fries at other places, "it depends."

Wow, I thought I was the only one. McDonalds is the only fries I eat without ketchup. Other fast food type places, ketchup for sure. Places like Joe's BBQ/Gates, I use BBQ sauce. When I make fries/tots/waffle fries at home, I usually use jalapeno ketchup.

[Baby Lee]

I’ll take mustard all day long over ketchup.

Honey mustard, yeah. Vinegary yellow hotdog jizz not so much.

Two best honey mustard/fry combos, Culvers and Steak'n'Shake.

Very different, both delicious. Culvers is like a combo of real honey and stone-ground artisinal mustard, ooh fancy!! Steak'n'Shake is uber-processed creamy-yellow stuff, not fancy at ALL. . .

[tredadda]

I need equally sized portions of ketchup and mayonnaise side by side. I then drag a couple fries through each to get a generous amount of each on the fries. Enjoy

So you mix it like Bob Ross mixes paints?

[tredadda]

4 - Fries are good. Ketchup is good. Together they're great.



Fries and a multitude of condiments are great.

BBQ, Ketchup, Spicey Ketchup, Mustard, Honey Mustard, Ranch, Fry Sauce, etc..

Please give me all of them.

Tony the Tiger agrees.