What oil does Starbucks fry in?
Starbucks cooks with canola and sunflower oil.
In detail: canola/sunflower/soybean oils in food items; phasing out canola — avocado-oil egg bites launched late 2025.
Ordering at Starbucks? Build your meal in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderStarbucks at a glance
| Fry oil (US) | Canola and sunflower oil |
| Seed oils | Yes |
| Beef tallow | No |
| Peanut oil | No |
| Seed oil grade | A (1.0 g average per item, 587 items) |
| Is it a seed oil? | Canola oil: Yes · Sunflower oil: Yes |
The 5 cleanest things to order at Starbucks
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Organic Valley Stringles Mozzarella String Cheese | 0.3g |
| Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper Egg Bites | 0.4g |
| Truffle Mushroom & Brie Egg Bites | 0.8g |
| Plain Bagel | 0.8g |
| Cheese Danish | 0.8g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Build your Starbucks order
Pick your meal, sides, sauces and drink in the app and see your seed oil total before you order. It logs to your day in one tap. Free on iPhone and Android.
Build my orderWhat oil do other chains like Starbucks use?
- What oil does Dunkin' use? Palm oil
- What oil does Tim Hortons use? Palm oil
- What oil does Krispy Kreme use? Palm oil and vegetable oil blend
- What oil does Scooter's Coffee use? Soybean and canola oil (estimated)
- What oil does Shipley Do-Nuts use? Palm oil
- What oil does Duck Donuts use? Palm oil
- What oil does Honey Dew Donuts use? Palm and soybean oil
- What oil does Einstein Bros Bagels use? Soybean oil
Why the frying oil matters
Most fast-food chains fry in seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or a blend of them, which are high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). A handful still use beef tallow or other stable fats, which are far lower in PUFA. The oil a kitchen fries in is the single biggest driver of how much seed oil ends up on your plate. See the full breakdown on the Starbucks report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.
Frequently asked
What oil does Starbucks fry in?
Starbucks cooks with canola and sunflower oil. In detail: canola/sunflower/soybean oils in food items; phasing out canola — avocado-oil egg bites launched late 2025.
Does Starbucks use seed oils?
Yes. Starbucks cooks with canola and sunflower oil. Its seed oil grade is A, about 1.0 g of polyunsaturated fat per menu item.
Does Starbucks use beef tallow?
No. Starbucks cooks with canola and sunflower oil, not beef tallow.
Does Starbucks use peanut oil?
Not that we can find. Starbucks cooks with canola and sunflower oil. If you have a peanut allergy, ask the restaurant directly, because oils and suppliers can vary by location.
What is the lowest seed oil order at Starbucks?
Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich (1.9 g of polyunsaturated fat). Next: Spinach, Feta & Egg White Wrap (1.9 g) and Turkey Bacon & Egg White Sandwich (3.0 g).
Which Starbucks item has the most seed oil?
Chicken & Double-Smoked Bacon Sandwich, at about 16.0 g of polyunsaturated fat as listed.