Culver's Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Culver's cooks with: canola/high-oleic canola oil blend (crinkle-cut fries, cheese curds); does not use beef tallow. Across the 82 menu items we analyzed, it averages 6.3g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
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Safest Orders at Culver's
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: Chocolate Fresh Frozen Custard (2 scoops) + Soft drink, 1.5g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Lemon Ice | 0.0g |
| Sweet Baby Ray's® BBQ | 0.0g |
| Burger Patty Only (No Bun) | 0.8g |
| Chocolate Fresh Frozen Custard (2 scoops) | 1.5g |
| Vanilla Fresh Frozen Custard (2 scoops) | 1.9g |
What to Avoid at Culver's
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| North Atlantic Cod Dinner (2 pc) | 35.3g |
| North Atlantic Cod Sandwich | 20.2g |
| North Atlantic Cod Sandwich (fried) | 20.2g |
| Ken's® Blue Cheese | 18.0g |
| Ken's® Boom Boom Sauce | 17.5g |
Every Culver's item, ranked
All 82 items we have for Culver's, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Lemon Ice | 0.0g |
| Sweet Baby Ray's® BBQ | 0.0g |
| Buffalo Sauce | 0.0g |
| Cocktail Sauce | 0.0g |
| Side Salad | 0.3g |
| Mashed Potatoes & Gravy | 0.3g |
| Burger Patty Only (No Bun) | 0.8g |
| Side of Thick Cut Bacon | 0.9g |
| Vanilla Custard Cone | 1.0g |
| Kids ButterBurger Meal | 1.1g |
| Chocolate Fresh Frozen Custard (2 scoops) | 1.5g |
| Chicken Tenders (1 pc) | 1.7g |
| Vanilla Shake (Small) | 1.8g |
| Vanilla Fresh Frozen Custard (2 scoops) | 1.9g |
| Chocolate Shake (Small) | 1.9g |
| Chocolate Malt (Small) | 1.9g |
| Flavor of the Day Dish (2 scoops) | 2.0g |
| Buffalo Chicken Tenders (1 pc) | 2.0g |
| Butterfly Jumbo Shrimp Value Basket (3 pc) | 2.1g |
| Crinkle Cut Fries (Small) | 2.1g |
| Vanilla Shake (Medium) | 2.4g |
| Chocolate Shake (Medium) | 2.4g |
| Chocolate Malt (Medium) | 2.5g |
| Sourdough Melt | 2.6g |
| Wisconsin Cheese Curds (Medium) | 2.8g |
| ButterBurger Cheese (single) | 2.9g |
| Caramel Cashew Sundae | 3.0g |
| Cheddar ButterBurger (double) | 3.0g |
| Pretzel Bites | 3.2g |
| Mushroom & Swiss ButterBurger | 3.3g |
| ButterBurger Original (single) | 3.3g |
| Vanilla Shake (Large) | 3.3g |
| Chocolate Shake (Large) | 3.3g |
| Crinkle Cut Fries (Medium) | 3.4g |
| Chocolate Malt (Large) | 3.4g |
| Kids Chicken Tenders (2 pc) | 3.5g |
| Honey Mustard | 3.5g |
| Horseradish | 3.5g |
| Pork Loin Sandwich | 3.9g |
| Oreo Reese's Cheesecake Concrete Mixer | 4.0g |
| Buffalo Chicken Tenders (2 pc) | 4.0g |
| Butterfly Jumbo Shrimp Value Basket (6 pc) | 4.1g |
| Crinkle Cut Fries (Large) | 4.2g |
| Concrete Mixer with Oreo | 4.3g |
| Concrete Mixer with Reese's | 4.4g |
| Mayo | 4.8g |
| Strawberry Fields Salad | 4.9g |
| Mushroom & Swiss ButterBurger (double) | 5.0g |
| Jalapeño Jack Pub Burger | 5.0g |
| 3pc Chicken Tenders | 5.3g |
| Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Sauce | 5.5g |
| ButterBurger Cheese (double) | 5.6g |
| Onion Rings (Medium) | 5.6g |
| Wisconsin Cheese Curds (Large) | 5.6g |
| ButterBurger Original (double) | 6.4g |
| Turtle Sundae (pecans) | 6.6g |
| Chicken Tenders (4 pc) | 6.9g |
| Butterfly Jumbo Shrimp Value Basket (10 pc) | 6.9g |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 7.7g |
| Buffalo Chicken Tenders (4 pc) | 7.9g |
| Wisconsin Cheese Curds (Family) | 8.4g |
| ButterBurger (Triple) | 9.5g |
| Coleslaw (soybean-mayo dressing) | 9.6g |
| Buttermilk Ranch | 10.5g |
| Bacon Deluxe (Single) | 10.7g |
| Tartar Sauce | 10.8g |
| Onion Rings (Large) | 11.2g |
| Culver's Deluxe (double) | 11.7g |
| Jalapeño Jack Chicken Sandwich | 12.0g |
| Crinkle Cut Fries (Family) | 12.8g |
| Bacon Deluxe (double) | 13.4g |
| Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich | 13.6g |
| Chicken Tenders (8 pc) | 13.8g |
| Culver's® Signature Sauce | 15.0g |
| Crispy Chicken Sandwich | 15.6g |
| Buffalo Chicken Tenders (8 pc) | 15.8g |
| Onion Rings (Family) | 16.7g |
| Ken's® Boom Boom Sauce | 17.5g |
| Ken's® Blue Cheese | 18.0g |
| North Atlantic Cod Sandwich | 20.2g |
| North Atlantic Cod Sandwich (fried) | 20.2g |
| North Atlantic Cod Dinner (2 pc) | 35.3g |
Fry Oil History at Culver's
Cooking in 100% canola oil since March 2007.
Culver's announced the plan in December 2006 and had every restaurant on 100 percent canola oil by March 1, 2007. It took about two years of testing with Cargill to land on the replacement. Source
Every documented oil switch across the industry lives on the Oil History timeline.
Frequently asked
Does Culver's use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Culver's cooks with: canola/high-oleic canola oil blend (crinkle-cut fries, cheese curds); does not use beef tallow. Across the 82 menu items we analyzed, it averages 6.3g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
What oil does Culver's cook with?
Our research indicates: canola/high-oleic canola oil blend (crinkle-cut fries, cheese curds); does not use beef tallow. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Culver's use beef tallow?
Yes, at least for some items. Our research indicates: canola/high-oleic canola oil blend (crinkle-cut fries, cheese curds); does not use beef tallow. Beef tallow is far lower in PUFA than seed oils.
Is Culver's seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Culver's cooks with canola/high-oleic canola oil blend (crinkle-cut fries, cheese curds); does not use beef tallow, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Culver's?
Lemon Ice is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Culver's, at an estimated 0.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Culver's?
North Atlantic Cod Dinner (2 pc) is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Culver's, at an estimated 35.3g 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
McDonald's · Burger King · Wendy's · Five Guys · Whataburger · Shake Shack
See where Culver's 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.