The Classic Boxed Mix Everyone Used For Crispy 'Fried' Pork Chops In The '70s, '80s, And '90s

If you grew up in the 1970s, '80s, or '90s, you may have fond recollections of helping out in the kitchen when pork chops were on the dinner menu. We're talking about the one job that took absolutely no culinary skills, even if it did require a strong grip. Shaking a bag full of raw meat may not sound all that exciting but at our house we kids fought over who would get the job when the box of Shake 'n Bake came out of the cupboard.

At its core, Shake 'n Bake was simply a box of seasoned breadcrumbs with a few other ingredients added in, but it promised an easier, less messy way to make pork chops. This was thanks to the bag included in the box. You'd throw the meat (moistened with water or milk) into the bag along with the breadcrumbs and shake with all your might until the pork was thoroughly coated. The product was a time-saver since the pork chops could be baked and would turn out just as crispy as if they'd been fried.

On the surface this product from General Foods doesn't appear to be all that groundbreaking, but in 1965 when the original version came out it was a boon for overworked parents with little time for preparing dinner. This was especially true as women were joining the workforce in droves (between 1960 and 1990 the labor participation rate jumped from 38% to 58%). As an added bonus, Shake 'n Bake was an economical way to feed a family.

When the original Shake 'n Bake came out, it was a near-instant hit. Beyond its time savings and the benefit of keeping the kids busy, its low price certainly helped. At the time you could buy two packages for about $0.39 cents (that's $4.21 today when adjusted for inflation). You also didn't need the other ingredients typically used for frying (such as eggs, milk, or oil), and as mentioned, busy parents also saved time since you could throw the chops in the oven and in less than 30 minutes they'd be ready.

While the original product was marketed for chicken (there is a separate Shake 'n Bake for fish), the package suggested also using it for pork or veal. In 1969, the company released a Shake 'n Bake specifically for pork chops. Then in 1980, when the United States was hit with an economic recession, the company pushed Shake 'n Bake for pork since it was a cheaper protein than beef. The '80s also saw the pork industry's influential "The Other White Meat" ad campaign which helped make pork a more popular protein.

Shake 'n Bake is still around today, although it no longer comes with a plastic shaker bag. Kraft, which owns the brand, got rid of the bags in 2022 in a bid to be more ecologically friendly. So if you decide to have a little nostalgic dinner featuring the product, you'll have to use your own bag or some other sealable container. Either way, you'll still have the thrill of shaking those chops like there's no tomorrow.