Carl's Jr. Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Carl's Jr. cooks with: soybean and canola blend (confirmed via ingredient/allergen disclosures; PUFA fraction ~0.42). Across the 82 menu items we analyzed, it averages 8.3g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
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Safest Orders at Carl's Jr.
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.
Cleanest full order: Burger Patty Only (No Bun) + Dasani Water, 1.1g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Burger Patty Only (No Bun) | 1.1g |
| Big Cheeseburger | 1.3g |
| El Diablo | 4.1g |
| Double Cheeseburger | 5.0g |
| Waffle Fries Small | 5.0g |
What to Avoid at Carl's Jr.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Grilled Cheese Breakfast Sandwich (Sausage) | 24.5g |
| Charbroiled Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich | 20.6g |
| Guacamole Bacon Burger | 20.3g |
| Hand-Breaded Bacon Swiss Chicken Sandwich | 18.8g |
| Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich | 18.4g |
Every Carl's Jr. item, ranked
All 82 items we have for Carl's Jr., safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Frozen Lemonade | 0.0g |
| Triple Berry Frozen Lemonade | 0.0g |
| Simply Orange Juice | 0.0g |
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Dasani Water | 0.0g |
| Hand-Crafted Lemonade | 0.0g |
| Spicy Buffalo Dipping Sauce | 0.0g |
| Sweet & Bold BBQ Dipping Sauce | 0.0g |
| 1% Milk | 0.1g |
| Chocolate Milk | 0.1g |
| Chocolatey Chip Cookies | 0.7g |
| Hand-Scooped Ice-Cream Shake Small | 1.0g |
| Burger Patty Only (No Bun) | 1.1g |
| Big Cheeseburger | 1.3g |
| Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake | 1.7g |
| Vanilla Shake | 1.9g |
| Chocolate Shake | 1.9g |
| Strawberry Shake | 1.9g |
| Hand-Scooped Ice-Cream Shake Large | 2.0g |
| Hand-Scooped Triple Berry Ice-Cream Shake | 2.0g |
| Cookies & Cream Shake | 2.4g |
| Churro Hand-Scooped Ice-Cream Shake | 3.0g |
| Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit | 3.7g |
| El Diablo | 4.1g |
| Double Cheeseburger | 5.0g |
| Kids Meal - Hamburger | 5.0g |
| Waffle Fries Small | 5.0g |
| Chocolate Cake | 5.5g |
| Charbroiled BBQ Chicken Sandwich | 5.5g |
| Steak and Egg Burrito | 5.8g |
| Kids Meal - Cheeseburger | 6.0g |
| Biscuit N' Gravy | 6.0g |
| Bacon Egg and Cheese Burrito | 6.2g |
| Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders 3-Piece | 6.5g |
| Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce | 6.6g |
| Kids Meal - Chicken Stars (4 Piece) | 7.0g |
| Chicken Stars 6-Piece | 7.1g |
| Kids Meal - Chicken Tenders (2 Piece) | 8.0g |
| Waffle Fries | 8.0g |
| Western Bacon Cheeseburger | 8.1g |
| Natural-Cut French Fries Small | 8.1g |
| Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders 5-Piece | 8.2g |
| Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce | 8.4g |
| Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger | 8.5g |
| Hash Rounds Small | 8.7g |
| Sausage Egg & Cheese Biscuit | 8.8g |
| CrissCut Fries | 9.0g |
| A.1. Double Cheeseburger | 9.0g |
| Guacamole Bacon Breakfast Burrito | 9.0g |
| The Breakfast Burger | 9.8g |
| Sourdough Star Single | 10.0g |
| Chicken Stars 9-Piece | 10.6g |
| Natural-Cut French Fries Medium | 11.0g |
| The Most American Thickburger | 11.0g |
| Hash Rounds Medium | 11.0g |
| Waffle Fries Large | 11.0g |
| French Toast Dips | 11.0g |
| Fried Zucchini | 11.0g |
| Big Carl | 11.5g |
| Famous Star with Cheese | 11.5g |
| Monster Biscuit | 11.8g |
| Jalapeno Poppers Bites 6-Piece | 12.0g |
| Natural-Cut French Fries Large | 12.8g |
| Sourdough Star Double | 13.0g |
| Cali XL Burger | 13.0g |
| Super Star with Cheese | 13.0g |
| Redhook Beer-Battered Fish Sandwich | 13.0g |
| Spicy Chicken Sandwich | 13.3g |
| Loaded Breakfast Burrito | 13.7g |
| Jalapeno Double Cheeseburger | 14.5g |
| California Classic Double Cheeseburger | 14.5g |
| Sourdough Star Triple | 16.0g |
| Grilled Cheese Breakfast Sandwich (Bacon) | 16.5g |
| Big Country Breakfast Burrito | 16.9g |
| Onion Rings | 17.4g |
| Jalapeno Poppers Bites 9-Piece | 17.5g |
| Charbroiled Chicken Club Sandwich | 17.9g |
| Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich | 18.4g |
| Hand-Breaded Bacon Swiss Chicken Sandwich | 18.8g |
| Guacamole Bacon Burger | 20.3g |
| Charbroiled Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich | 20.6g |
| Grilled Cheese Breakfast Sandwich (Sausage) | 24.5g |
Frequently asked
Does Carl's Jr. use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Carl's Jr. cooks with: soybean and canola blend (confirmed via ingredient/allergen disclosures; PUFA fraction ~0.42). Across the 82 menu items we analyzed, it averages 8.3g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
What oil does Carl's Jr. cook with?
Our research indicates: soybean and canola blend (confirmed via ingredient/allergen disclosures; PUFA fraction ~0.42). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Carl's Jr. use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Carl's Jr. cooks with soybean and canola blend (confirmed via ingredient/allergen disclosures; PUFA fraction ~0.42), not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Carl's Jr. seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Carl's Jr. cooks with soybean and canola blend (confirmed via ingredient/allergen disclosures; PUFA fraction ~0.42), which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Carl's Jr.?
Burger Patty Only (No Bun) is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Carl's Jr., at an estimated 1.1g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Carl's Jr.?
Grilled Cheese Breakfast Sandwich (Sausage) is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Carl's Jr., at an estimated 24.5g 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. New to the topic? Start with what seed oils are and the complete list, or read the evidence on why people avoid them.
Compare other chains
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See where Carl's Jr. lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.