Ever wondered what ‘take aways’ looked like in the 18th century? Or where KFC’s secret recipe is stored? Read more to find out five things you didn’t know about fast food.

1. ‘Fast food’ has been around for centuries.

The first ever records of fast food stands date back to ancient China (around 25 – 205 AD), when noodle cart owners stayed open all night to feed hungry late night customers. [Source: Buzzfeed]

2. Oysters were once considered to be fast food.

Nowadays we save it for special occasions, but oysters were sold on the banks of the Hudson River in New York as a quick bite to eat for people on the go. Street food has certainly changed over the years, but the appeal is just as strong. Try your hand at street food cooking at L’atelier des Chefs. [Source: The Telegraph]

3. McDonalds wasn’t the first fast food super chain

But they were the first to use an assembly line system, (Thank you Henry Ford!) Fast food experts, however, coin White Castle as the first official fast food chain. It was founded in 1921 in Kansas USA and changed people’s perception of burgers forever. Burgers were previously seen as low quality food made from scraps and spoiled meat. How wrong they were. [Source: howstuffworks.com]

4. Colonel Sanders’ original recipe is locked away in a vault

Sadly, we will never know the secret behind KFC’s original recipe of 11 spices and herbs – it’s been kept in a vault for years and will probably stay there for eternity. All in the name of fried chicken! [Source: Buzzfeed]