I Heart Mac & Cheese Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, I Heart Mac & Cheese cooks with: Butter and cheese sauce base (low PUFA) for mac bowls and grilled cheese; soybean or canola oil for Mac Bites fryer and Tater Tots; flatbreads baked with minimal added oil. Across the 65 menu items we analyzed, it averages 4.6g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
Safest Orders at I Heart Mac & Cheese
| Soft Drink | 0.0g PUFA |
| Apple Juice | 0.0g PUFA |
| Dasani Water | 0.0g PUFA |
| Red Bull | 0.0g PUFA |
| Sugar Free Red Bull | 0.0g PUFA |
What to Avoid at I Heart Mac & Cheese
| Mac & Cheese with Buffalo Chicken | 10.0g PUFA |
| Buffalo Blue Mac & Cheese | 10.0g PUFA |
| Mac Bites - Bacon Jalapeno | 10.0g PUFA |
| Mac & Cheese with Fried Chicken | 9.0g PUFA |
| Mac Bites - Classic | 9.0g PUFA |
Frequently asked
Does I Heart Mac & Cheese use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, I Heart Mac & Cheese cooks with: Butter and cheese sauce base (low PUFA) for mac bowls and grilled cheese; soybean or canola oil for Mac Bites fryer and Tater Tots; flatbreads baked with minimal added oil. Across the 65 menu items we analyzed, it averages 4.6g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does I Heart Mac & Cheese cook with?
Our research indicates: Butter and cheese sauce base (low PUFA) for mac bowls and grilled cheese; soybean or canola oil for Mac Bites fryer and Tater Tots; flatbreads baked with minimal added oil. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does I Heart Mac & Cheese use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates I Heart Mac & Cheese cooks with Butter and cheese sauce base (low PUFA) for mac bowls and grilled cheese; soybean or canola oil for Mac Bites fryer and Tater Tots; flatbreads baked with minimal added oil, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is I Heart Mac & Cheese seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates I Heart Mac & Cheese cooks with Butter and cheese sauce base (low PUFA) for mac bowls and grilled cheese; soybean or canola oil for Mac Bites fryer and Tater Tots; flatbreads baked with minimal added oil, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at I Heart Mac & Cheese?
Soft Drink is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at I Heart Mac & Cheese, at an estimated 0.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at I Heart Mac & Cheese?
Mac & Cheese with Buffalo Chicken is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at I Heart Mac & Cheese, at an estimated 10.0g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. Curious why people avoid them? Read the evidence.
Compare other chains
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See where I Heart Mac & Cheese lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch.