What oil does Whataburger fry in?
Whataburger fries in soybean oil and vegetable oil blend.
In detail: zero-trans-fat soybean oil liquid shortening (fries, onion rings, all fried items).
Ordering at Whataburger? Build your meal in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderWhataburger at a glance
| Fry oil (US) | Soybean oil and vegetable oil blend |
| Seed oils | Yes |
| Beef tallow | No |
| Peanut oil | No |
| Seed oil grade | C (6.5 g average per item, 172 items) |
| Is it a seed oil? | Soybean oil: Yes · Vegetable oil: Yes |
The 5 cleanest things to order at Whataburger
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 |
|---|---|
| Garden Salad | 0.5g |
| Burger Patty Only (No Bun) | 1.1g |
| Egg Sandwich | 2.9g |
| Apple & Cranberry Chicken Salad | 3.0g |
| Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuit Sandwich with Bacon | 3.5g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Build your Whataburger 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 Whataburger has changed its frying oil
Whataburger said in July 2007 that after about 18 months of testing it would phase in trans fat free cooking oils as they became available. Burgers, breakfast items and taquitos were due to be trans fat free by that fall. Source
Every documented oil switch across the industry lives on the Oil History timeline.
What oil do other chains like Whataburger 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 Culver's use? Canola oil
- What oil does Shake Shack use? Soybean oil
- What oil does Smashburger use? Beef tallow
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 Whataburger 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 Whataburger fry in?
Whataburger fries in soybean oil and vegetable oil blend. In detail: zero-trans-fat soybean oil liquid shortening (fries, onion rings, all fried items).
Does Whataburger use seed oils?
Yes. Whataburger fries in soybean oil and vegetable oil blend. Its seed oil grade is C, about 6.5 g of polyunsaturated fat per menu item.
Does Whataburger use beef tallow?
No. Whataburger fries in soybean oil and vegetable oil blend, not beef tallow.
Does Whataburger use peanut oil?
Not that we can find. Whataburger fries in soybean oil and vegetable oil blend. 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 Whataburger?
Garden Salad (0.5 g of polyunsaturated fat). Next: Burger Patty Only (No Bun) (1.1 g) and Egg Sandwich (2.9 g).
Which Whataburger item has the most seed oil?
WhataWings 36 Piece Bundle, at about 67.3 g of polyunsaturated fat as listed.