Food and Drink Why are ketchup packets so small? - Page 5

**Rain Man** · 01-19-2021, 04:59 PM

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?

PunkinDrublic · 01-20-2021, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Megatron96 · 01-20-2021, 12:45 AM

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 · 01-20-2021, 12:51 AM

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** · 01-20-2021, 01:00 AM

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

listopencil · 01-20-2021, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

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.

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

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 01-20-2021, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

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.** · 01-20-2021, 06:26 AM

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 · 01-20-2021, 07:05 AM

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 · 01-20-2021, 07:10 AM

Gravy and cheese, Eh.

Stewie · 01-20-2021, 09:49 AM

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 · 01-20-2021, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

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 · 01-20-2021, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superturtle

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

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 · 01-20-2021, 11:03 AM

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 · 01-20-2021, 01:36 PM

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** · 01-20-2021, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJJasonp

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!!

View Poll Results: How many ketchup packets do you desire for a large order of McDonald's fries?
0 - Ketchup only masks the flavor of the fries.	22	32.35%
1 - I gently use ketchup as a garnish.	7	10.29%
2 - Ketchup enhances the flavor, but only if used in moderation.	4	5.88%
3 - I desire some coverage on my fries.	4	5.88%
4 - Fries are good. Ketchup is good. Together they're great.	15	22.06%
5 - I like ketchup. Give me a break.	4	5.88%
6 - This is America, where the ketchup flows down forested mountainsides.	4	5.88%
7 - Ketchup keeps my coat sleek and shiny.	2	2.94%
8 or more - The fries are merely a vehicle for the ketchup.	5	7.35%
I don't eat french fries. Please don't tell the government that I'm an alien.	1	1.47%
Voters: 68. You may not vote on this poll

01-19-2021, 04:59 PM
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $2938491 VARSITY	Why are ketchup packets so small? 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?
Posts: 141,719

01-20-2021, 12:45 AM	#62
Megatron96 Suupraa Geniuuusss Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Phoenix, AZ Casino cash: $1570400	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. __________________ *“Some ideas are so stupid only intellectuals believe them.”*- George Orwell Steven "Spags" Spagnuolo is my Adopt-A-Chief!!!
Posts: 30,291	1 0

01-20-2021, 12:51 AM	#63
kcxiv In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Valley, Cali Casino cash: $8807996	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.
Posts: 29,110

01-20-2021, 01:00 AM	#64
TinyEvel Just a li'l Evel Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts. Casino cash: $5257131	Hey Seinfeld, where is Rainman and what have you done with him?
Posts: 11,815

01-20-2021, 06:26 AM	#67
mikeyis4dcats. Scarlett Johansson's boytoy Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $9555998	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? __________________
Posts: 12,526

01-20-2021, 07:05 AM	#68
seclark MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: nemo Casino cash: $1309900	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 __________________ "Mr. seclark. Wrong for gravy, wrong for jelly, wrong for biscuits." -rj "If every Planeteer who was disliked by another Planeteer stopped being a Planeteer we wouldn't have any Planeteers." -rj
Posts: 13,406

01-20-2021, 07:10 AM	#69
kccrow MVP Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Michigan Casino cash: $2947078	Gravy and cheese, Eh.
Posts: 12,682

01-20-2021, 09:49 AM	#70
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $1529901	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.
Posts: 13,635	1 0

01-20-2021, 11:03 AM	#73
Gary Cooper MVP Join Date: Nov 2020 Casino cash: $2230400	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."
Posts: 6,800

01-20-2021, 01:36 PM	#74
Molitoth Mahomes Fanboi Join Date: Apr 2004 Casino cash: $2724969	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.
Posts: 19,493