Lockdown Fakeaways We’re Missing Most

Aside from friends, family and loved ones, what are you missing most about everyday life during the coronavirus lockdown? Work? Shopping? The pub, perhaps? For us, it’s eating out – and we know thousands of you feel the same.

 

With chain restaurants and fast food stores closing their doors indefinitely in late March, we’ve had to go a long time without a Big Mac, Frappuccino or a cheeky Nando’s. And that got us thinking: which takeaway and fast foods are us Brits missing the most? And is it possible to recreate them at home?

 

To find out, we looked at Google search data to see which menu items have been most searched since restaurants closed their doors – as the country’s fast food lovers look to replicate their favourites in the kitchen. Here’s a look at what we discovered.

 

The Top 10 Takeaways Brits Are Missing Most During Lockdown

In March, there were 341,370 searches for menu items from the UK’s top take-outs, including McDonald’s, KFC, Starbucks and Greggs. Here’s a closer look at the 10 most missed fast foods during the coronavirus lockdown.

 

Menu Item	No. of Searches in March
KFC Popcorn Chicken	27,100
Big Mac	22,200
McFlurry	18,100
Peri Peri Chicken	18,100
KFC Vegan Burger	9,900
Frappuccino	8,100
Greggs Sausage Roll	8,100
Happy Meal	8,100
KFC Chicken	8,100
McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets	8,100

 

KFC fans are missing their fried chicken during lockdown, with the chain’s classic Popcorn Chicken being the most searched take-out food in March. Of course, McDonald’s beloved favourite the Big Mac was also high on the list, being a weekly staple for many fast food fans.

 

Elsewhere, data shows us Brits had a hankering for Nando’s in March, with over 18,000 searches for ‘peri peri chicken’. The iconic Greggs Sausage Roll also made the list, though fans of the bakery chain will be happy to hear that Greggs plans to reopen a handful of stores soon.

 

Now we know which fast foods we’re missing most, let’s take a look at where in the country people are pining for their favourite takeaways. Use the interactive map below to explore the most missed foods by region.

 

Across the UK, there’s around a 50/50 split between McDonald’s Big Mac and KFC’s Popcorn Chicken as the country’s most missed take-out foods. What’s also evident is the clear north-south divide for the Greggs Sausage Roll, with the beloved pastry snack coming in the top 5 most-missed foods everywhere north of the East Midlands.

 

How to Recreate Fakeaway Food at Home

Given how much we’re missing our treasured take-out food, many people may be looking for ways to recreate the classics at home. So, with this in mind, here we share six recipes for replicating your favourite takeaway food from the comfort of your lockdown kitchen.

 

KFC Popcorn Chicken

Crunchy and satisfying any time of the day, it’s small wonder KFC’s Popcorn Chicken proved the UK’s most missed take-out food during the coronavirus lockdown. The good news is, it’s an easy one to recreate at home, and the results may be better than the original.

If you’re keen to replicate this moreish dish in your kitchen, take a look at this recipe from Don’t Go Bacon My Heart.

 

McDonald’s Big Mac

The McDonald’s Big Mac may be the nation’s favourite take-out burger, to the point where lots of people have had a hard time living without it. The secret to this iconic burger stack may be all in the sauce, but there are ways to get close to the original by carefully combining a few key ingredients, including gherkins, lettuce and Thousand Island sauce.

If you can’t go another day without a Big Mac, make a fake one with this recipe from Top Secret Recipes.

 

Greggs Sausage Roll

Is there anything more satisfying than a fresh-from-the-oven Greggs Sausage Roll? Pairing flaky pastry with soft sausage meat, this is a take-out staple that’s captured the nation’s heart – particularly in the north of England. While it may be difficult to get close to the ecstasy of Greggs’ original, a homemade sausage roll is devilishly satisfying in its own right.

Daydreaming about a steaming sausage roll? Have a go at making one yourself with this recipe from the BBC.

 

Peri Peri Chicken

Nando’s is one of the UK’s most popular chain restaurants, with us Brits besotted by all things peri peri. If you’re a regular Nando’s patron, you may be missing their unique, Portuguese inspired plates during the coronavirus lockdown – but it’s easy to recreate the classic taste of Nando’s at home.

Not sure how? Take a look at this easy-to-follow recipe from Hungry Healthy Happy.

 

Starbucks Frappuccino

A Starbucks Frappuccino may not be the most essential fast food on our shortlist, but if you’re craving one, we won’t judge. Starbucks was forced to close all its 1,000 UK outlets at the start of the lockdown, leaving die-hard fans without their regular caffeine fix. Happily, it’s easy to replicate classic ‘bucks favourites, like the Frappuccino, at home.

If summer just isn’t summer without a Starbucks Frap, learn how to make your own with this guide from Eugenie Kitchen.

 

McDonald’s McFlurry

Who doesn’t love a McDonald’s McFlurry? Silky vanilla ice cream, paired with an ever-changing ensemble of chocolate and sweet accompaniments – it’s always been a winner. Many people regularly venture to McDonald’s for their McFlurry hit alone, but the lockdown has put a stop to that – leaving an ice cream-shaped hole in our lives.

If the thought of another week without a McDonald’s McFlurry has you feeling down, learn how to make your own version with this guide from Wide Open Eats.

 

The coronavirus lockdown may be tough, but it is an opportunity to get back in the kitchen and expand your culinary repertoire. Whether you’re missing McDonald’s or have a hankering for Nando’s, recreating fakeaways is a great way to feel satisfied while rediscovering your love of cooking.

At Breville, we’re firm believers in the joy of creative cooking, and our high-quality kitchen appliances reflect that. For more information or to browse our complete range, visit the Breville website today.