Best I Ever Ate? Broaster Chicken at Fleetwood in Springfield, IL.
I love doing my own version of Cooking Channel’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”, because I don’t have to play by their rules and in this installment, I get to go back in time 40 years (and 300 plus miles), to a place that’s no longer around, but still makes me hungry for a food I tend to rail about. But I learned something stunning (to me) along the way.
Picture it, early 1980’s, and I’m starting out my career in Illnois’ state capital, Springfield. Out on the northeast side of town, along Dirksen Parkway, is the Fleetwood Restaurant. It’s far from fancy, but as with most of these kind of places, it’s got good food. And the Fleetwood’s specialty is “broasted” chicken. It’s moist, not greasy, seasoned just right. Darn near perfect; even the chicken breasts.
Now here’s where things get dicey for me. I’ve been railing for several years about how people get all excited to the point of making traffic jams for what is essentially just a piece of chicken on a bun, like at Chick-fil-A. But while doing my homework for this piece, I come to find out, a lot of these trendy chicken places are serving essentially broasted (or simply pressure-fried) chicken, like the chicken I loved at the Fleetwood..
“Pressure frying is also used by some of the larger food-service operations, such as KFC (formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken) and Chick-Fil-A. These companies do not use the term “broasted,” however, since it is trademarked by Broaster Company. Pressure frying can be attempted at home using special equipment.” – Encyclopedia.com
There are recipes on the interwebs for doing your own broasted chicken, though I read pressure cooker makers don’t want you doing it at home, for safety reasons. But, at the same time, apparently broasted uses less oil than fried chicken, so it’s probably healthier for you.
So back to Springfield. Springfield has some historic places still around from the legendary Route 66 era. “The Mother Road” went though Springfield. So there’s the Cozy Dog Drive-In selling batter-dipped corn dogs on a stick; and Sonrise Donuts, so it’s not health food we’re focusing on here.
I guess I need to rethink my complaining about chicken sandwiches, and focus on the traffic jams they create instead.
Read More: ‘Best I Ever Ate’? Broasted Chicken In Springfield, Illinois
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Come see our VF-3 Ventless Fryer in action this weekend at the @nationalrestaurantshow 💥
#2025RestaurantShow #BetterBeBroaster
May 13
Happy Mother`s Day!
Today, we’re celebrating the women who fill our hearts — and our plates — with love. Treat Mom to something crispy, golden, and unforgettable. 🍗💕
Because nothing says "I love you, Mom" like a bucket of her favorite Broasted chicken!
May 11
🎣 Hook your customers with a Friday night favorite!
Our Beer Battered Cod Fillets are made from 100% skinless, boneless, whole muscle wild Alaskan cod—crisped to golden perfection in a rich, flavorful Samuel Adams® ale batter. 🍺🔥
Pair `em with our crispy potato wedges and you`ve got the ultimate fish fry combo that`ll have everyone coming back for seconds. 🙌🐟 Available at a Broadliner Distributor near you! #BetterBeBroaster
May 7
This week’s Operator Spotlight goes to Lucy’s Burgers located in Blaine, MN! 🔥
Lucy’s Burgers specializes in savory handmade burgers (fresh, never frozen), Genuine Broaster Chicken, state fair quality cheese curds, & fresh salads! 🍔
Join them for happy hour, relax by their cozy fireplaces, enjoy a cocktail on their patio, or catch the game with friends. At Lucy`s Burgers, great food and a welcoming atmosphere come together for an unforgettable dining experience. 😎
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May 6
#FAQFryDay: How do I minimize Fryer downtime?
1. Always use Broaster filtering compounds & follow the recommended filtering procedures set forth in your Operations Manual.
2. Always make sure the filter screen is in place under the filter paper when you reassemble your filter pan.
3. If the pressure valve (small lever on top of Broaster) won’t fully close, the drain valve could be open & clogged. Remove clog with your ramrod & close drain valve.
4. Always keep spare O-rings on hand for cover & filter pan.
5. When filtering & cleaning your Broaster Pressure Fryer, always use the brushes from your Pressure Fryer Accessory Kit. These brushes were specially designed to quickly & easily clean the units. Contact your Local Authorized Distributor if you need replacement heads or brushes.
6. Once a month, verify screws for the probe guard are tight & not missing.
7. Keep copies of instruction sheets & job aides on hand near your equipment to ensure proper procedures are always followed. This is especially important when you have newer employees in the kitchen.
8. NEVER turn the unit on with water &/or cleaning solution in the cooking well. Always unplug your unit & place the cleaning flag on the latch column to alert others that the well is currently being cleaned with water.
9. Always use your handy O-Ring & groove cleaner tool when installing O-Rings or cleaning your groove. This tool was designed to not damage the O-Ring or the groove. If damage occurs to either component, this may cause your unit to not build pressure.
10. Always use OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) Components & parts on your Broaster Pressure Fryer. Failure to do so may void your warranty.
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May 2
Today is a very special day for the Broaster Company—we get to celebrate two dedicated, hard-working, talented individuals for their 30-year anniversaries with us! 🎉
Troy Long and Ron Kollasch have been an important part of our Broaster family for 30 years now. We are so lucky to have them on our team! Drop a comment below to show them some love! 💬👇
May 1
🎩❤️ We had a delightful afternoon hosting the lovely ladies of the @redhatsociety for lunch today! They joined us to learn more about Broaster and enjoyed our famous Genuine Broaster Chicken 🍗 while sharing laughs, stories, and great company.
Apr 30
Who doesn’t love cheese curds? 🧀 Our Battered Cheddar Curds are covered with a light & tasty batter & par-fried to crispy perfection. Our curds are made from real Wisconsin yellow cheddar cheese that simply melts in your mouth. They’re frozen, ready to cook!
You gotta have ‘em! Ask your local Broaster Distributor for availability 👉 https://ow.ly/JwsO50VGkFy
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Apr 29
Create delicious, smoked foods with the Smokaroma Pressure Smoker! 😍
The Smokaroma Pressure Smoker combines the modern scientific method of pressure cooking with pressure smoking to create delicious foods. Traditional pits require constant attention, such as turning the food and basting, while the Smokaroma Pressure Smoker eliminates the need for constant labor while producing flavorful results in much less time.
Standard Features:
✨ Fast and easy operation increases productivity.
✨ Requires minimum kitchen space, and casters are standard, making the unit portable.
✨ Pressure smoking reduces shrinkage up to 40% over other methods.
✨ Smoke up to 45 pounds of ribs in under 90 minutes.
Get in contact with us today for a quote! #BetterBeBroaster
Apr 28
#FAQFryDay: Does Genuine Broaster Chicken offer training?
Yes! When you become an operator, you will have access to our training experts along with training materials and our national marketing team! We are here to help you each step of the way.
Apr 25
We love our Broaster Distributor Trainings! 💪🍗
There’s nothing better than bringing in our partners from across the country to our headquarters in Beloit, Wisconsin, for hands-on factory training. From deep dives into Broaster® Equipment to sizzling, fresh-from-the-fryer food sampling (yes, the chicken is as good as you’ve heard), it’s all about learning, sharing, and extending our knowledge—together.
Big thanks to our incredible distributors who make these trainings so valuable! #BetterBeBroaster
Apr 24
The next time you’re wondering, “What’s the best pizza near me?” Check out Boss` Pizza and Chicken - Urbandale, IA 🙌🏼
They have daily specials & all kinds of family packages to make sure you are well fed for any event. When it comes to pizza and chicken, they have special recipes that you can’t get anywhere else, made with fresh, quality ingredients.
Thank you for being a Genuine Broaster Operator! 🍗
#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken
Apr 23
#FAQFryDay: How do I find a local service agent for my Broaster Equipment?
The quickest way to find a Service Agent who can work on your Broaster Equipment is to enter your zip code into our Distributor locator. The Distributor for your area along with their contact info will be displayed. Most Broaster Distributors have an in-house service department. If they don`t have one, they will have local service agencies that they use regularly and can refer you to.
View our Distributor Locator at Broaster.com/distribution
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Apr 18
