Behind-the-Scenes Look at Wendy’s Salads

Have you ever wondered just how fresh are these salads you get at fast-food restaurants? I had a behind-the-scenes-look at Wendy’s and can confirm that their salads are as fresh as they come.

Photo courtesy of Wendy’s.

Quality is our recipe^® – Wendy’s commitment to using only the freshest ingredients and the best-tasting food is not just talk – it’s real.  I was invited for a behind-the-scenes look at their salads and was able to see for myself just how true that promise is.

From the moment I walked in the door at the Wendy’s on Howell Mill Road in Atlanta, I could see how dedicated Wendy’s employees – from corporate to local – are to ensuring that every customer’s dining experience is great and their food delicious.

Along with Arkeedah from ItsArkeedah and Amy from Marvelous Mommy, I saw first-hand the process of how Wendy’s core salads are made from raw ingredients into fantastic salads.

The Lettuce Story

The salads start with fresh romaine and iceberg lettuce.

Leaves that are not good are removed and the rest is washed and placed in an ice bath before being chopped into perfect bite-sized pieces.  The lettuce is then spun to remove excess moisture.  Next, the lettuce is combined with a spring mix which makes the salad base a blend of 11 varieties of lettuce.

Fresh veggies are also freshly prepared and chopped daily at each store.  Marinated chicken is grilled at each location and kept for no longer than an hour.  When a customer orders a salad, the chicken is then cut and placed on top of the salad.

Arkeedah (left), Amy (right), and I got to make our own salads.  (Photo courtesy of Wendy’s.)

The Salads

Each of the salads starts with the fresh lettuce blend and is topped with tender all-white chicken.  Between those two layers are flavor combinations that will make your mouth water.

Wendy’s Apple Pecan Chicken Salad – crisp red and green apples from Michigan and Washington orchards, along with roasted pecans seasoned with sea salt, dried cranberries, and bleu cheese crumbles made with milk from Wisconsin make this Wendy’s best selling salad.

Wendy’s Asian Cashew Chicken Salad – fire-roasted edamame, spicy roasted cashews, sliced cucumbers, and chopped red peppers round out this tasty salad which happens to be the lowest in calories – only 380 calories for the full size.

Wendy’s BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad – fire-roasted corn, freshly diced tomatoes, freshly cooked Applewood Smoked bacon, and barbecue sauce top my favorite.

While there, I learned about the My Wendy’s app (on iTunes App Store and Google play).  It’s a great tool when making your dining decisions.  You can even select a calorie range to view meals that will fit into your dietary plans.

Arkeedah, Lynda (me), Amy, and Jenna from Wendy’s
(Photo courtesy of Amy from Marvelous Mommy.)

After our tour, we got to enjoy our salads and learn more from Jenna, a food scientist at Wendy’s.  Naturally, I chose to make my favorite – the BBQ Ranch Chicken.  In the name of research, I tried the other two salads over the next two days.  All in the name of research, of course.  I can now personally vouch that they are all delicious.

Which salad would you like to try today?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Have you seen the salads this year?  Click here to read about the four premium salads being offered at Wendy’s – they are healthy fast food options you should try.