What oil does Steak 'n Shake fry in?
Steak 'n Shake fries in beef tallow.
In detail: Beef tallow for fries, tots, onion rings AND chicken tenders (100% beef tallow, no additives, preservatives or chemicals, per steaknshake.com/seed-oils); the supplier's par-cook step for fries and tots no longer uses vegetable oil either, so those two are fully seed-oil free; the chain's own page says eliminating seed oils "from all fried products and buns" will take more time (read 2026-10-20).
Source: Steak 'n Shake: Seed Oils, read October 20, 2026. Our fries, tots, onion rings, and chicken tenders are cooked in 100% beef tallow at our restaurants.
Ordering at Steak 'n Shake? Build your meal in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderSteak 'n Shake at a glance
| Fry oil (US) | Beef tallow |
| Seed oils | Not in the fryer |
| Beef tallow | Yes |
| Peanut oil | No |
| Seed oil grade | B (4.9 g average per item, 120 items) |
| Last checked | October 20, 2026 |
| Is it a seed oil? | Beef tallow: No |
The 5 cleanest things to order at Steak 'n Shake
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 |
|---|---|
| Double Steakburger | 2.0g |
| Grilled Cheese | 2.9g |
| Bacon Double Steakburger | 3.0g |
| Buttermilk Pancakes | 3.0g |
| Patty Melt | 4.0g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Build your Steak 'n Shake 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 orderHow Steak 'n Shake has changed its frying oil
On March 16, 2026 the chain launched tots fried in 100% beef tallow and pointed out that tots were made that way when they were invented in the 1950s. Source
In October 2025 the chain posted that fries with even a trace of seed oil would no longer be served. That closed out the supplier side of the change that started back in January. Source
The old buttery blend had seed oils in it. The chain posted in March 2025 that starting April 2 every restaurant would use 100% Grade A Wisconsin butter instead. Source
The chain announced on February 24 that some stores were already running tallow, and by March 1, 2025 all of its restaurants had made the change. It also worked with its supplier to drop the vegetable oil used to par fry the fries before shipping. Source
The chain put out a press release on January 16, 2025 saying every location would fry its shoestring fries in 100% all natural beef tallow instead of vegetable oil by the end of February. Source
Every documented oil switch across the industry lives on the Oil History timeline.
What oil do other chains like Steak 'n Shake use?
- What oil does McDonald's use? Canola and soybean oil
- What oil does Burger King use? Corn and cottonseed oil
- What oil does Wendy's use? Canola and cottonseed oil
- What oil does Five Guys use? Peanut oil
- What oil does In-N-Out Burger use? Sunflower oil
- What oil does Whataburger use? Soybean oil and vegetable oil blend
- What oil does Culver's use? Canola oil
- What oil does Shake Shack 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 Steak 'n Shake 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 Steak 'n Shake fry in?
Steak 'n Shake fries in beef tallow. In detail: Beef tallow for fries, tots, onion rings AND chicken tenders (100% beef tallow, no additives, preservatives or chemicals, per steaknshake.com/seed-oils); the supplier's par-cook step for fries and tots no longer uses vegetable oil either, so those two are fully seed-oil free; the chain's own page says eliminating seed oils "from all fried products and buns" will take more time (read 2026-10-20).
Does Steak 'n Shake use seed oils?
Not in the fryer: Steak 'n Shake fries in beef tallow. Some other items still contain seed oils, so check the grams for each one.
Does Steak 'n Shake use beef tallow?
Yes, at least for some items. Steak 'n Shake fries in beef tallow.
Does Steak 'n Shake use peanut oil?
Not that we can find. Steak 'n Shake fries in beef tallow. 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 Steak 'n Shake?
Patty Melt (4.0 g of polyunsaturated fat). Next: Steak Frank (4.5 g) and Crispy Chicken Sandwich (5.0 g).
Which Steak 'n Shake item has the most seed oil?
#3 Frisco Melt, at about 18.0 g of polyunsaturated fat as listed.