Ponderosa Steakhouse Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Ponderosa Steakhouse cooks with: soybean and corn oil (estimated). Across the 79 menu items we analyzed, it averages 4.4g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Ponderosa Steakhouse fry in? The full answer
Eating at Ponderosa Steakhouse soon? Build your order in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderAsk Ponderosa Steakhouse to drop seed oils
1 person has asked so far.
One tap, anonymous, no signup. We keep each chain's total public so the demand is impossible to ignore.
Safest Orders at Ponderosa Steakhouse
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: Buffet - Meatloaf + Loaded Mashed Potatoes + Coffee, 0.7g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Buffet - Meatloaf | 0.7g |
| Buffet - Stuffed Peppers | 0.8g |
| Bacon Strips (2 strips) | 1.0g |
| 8oz Sirloin Steak (grilled) | 1.1g |
| 6 oz Top Sirloin | 1.1g |
Build your Ponderosa Steakhouse 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 to Avoid at Ponderosa Steakhouse
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Chicken Monterey | 29.4g |
| Fish Fillet (fried) | 27.0g |
| Fried Shrimp (21 pc / Shrimp Roundup) | 17.4g |
| 14 Piece Fried Shrimp | 15.7g |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 13.5g |
Every Ponderosa Steakhouse item, ranked
All 79 items we have for Ponderosa Steakhouse, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Fat Free Italian Dressing (2 fl oz) | 0.0g |
| Chocolate Pudding | 0.0g |
| Loaded Mashed Potatoes | 0.0g |
| Carrots | 0.0g |
| Stewed Tomatoes | 0.0g |
| Peach Cobbler | 0.0g |
| Cherry Cobbler | 0.0g |
| Soft Serve, Chocolate | 0.0g |
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Steak Sauce | 0.0g |
| Milk | 0.4g |
| Buffet - Meatloaf | 0.7g |
| Buffet - Stuffed Peppers | 0.8g |
| Buffet - Macaroni and Cheese | 0.8g |
| Green Beans | 0.8g |
| Cauliflower with Cheese | 0.8g |
| Mashed Potatoes & Gravy | 1.0g |
| Soft-Serve Ice Cream (cone) | 1.0g |
| Bacon Strips (2 strips) | 1.0g |
| Sweet Potato Casserole | 1.0g |
| Sweet Corn | 1.0g |
| Country Cabbage | 1.0g |
| Steamed Broccoli | 1.0g |
| Stuffing | 1.0g |
| Cheesecake | 1.0g |
| Chocolate Chip Cookies | 1.0g |
| Glazed Strawberries | 1.0g |
| Vanilla Ice Cream | 1.0g |
| 8oz Sirloin Steak (grilled) | 1.1g |
| 6 oz Top Sirloin | 1.1g |
| 10 oz Top Sirloin | 1.3g |
| Grilled Chicken | 1.3g |
| Classic Caesar Salad | 1.5g |
| Bread Pudding | 1.5g |
| Peanut Butter Fudge | 1.9g |
| Homestyle Roll | 2.0g |
| Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits | 2.0g |
| Scrambled Eggs (breakfast) | 2.0g |
| Sirloin Tips | 2.0g |
| Mashed Potatoes | 2.0g |
| Chicken Wings (buffet) | 2.2g |
| Buffet - Chicken Pot Pie | 3.0g |
| Salad Bar | 3.0g |
| Coconut Cream Pie | 3.0g |
| Blackberry Cobbler | 3.0g |
| No Bake Cookies | 3.0g |
| 1/2 lb Black Angus Chopped Steak | 3.4g |
| Double Sirloin Tips | 3.4g |
| Buffet - Chicken and Dumplings | 4.0g |
| Buffet - Orange Chipotle Pulled Pork | 4.0g |
| Chocolate Oreo Cream Dessert | 4.0g |
| Cheeseburger | 4.0g |
| 12oz Ribeye Steak (grilled) | 4.3g |
| 10 oz Ribeye | 4.3g |
| 16 oz T-Bone | 4.4g |
| Buffet - Orange Chipotle Chicken | 5.0g |
| Honey BBQ Chicken | 5.2g |
| Honey BBQ Baby Back Ribs (Half Rack) | 5.4g |
| Fried Chicken Breast (buffet) | 5.8g |
| Fried Chicken Leg/Thigh (buffet) | 5.8g |
| Buffet - Fried Chicken | 5.8g |
| BLT Pasta Salad | 6.0g |
| Hash Browns (fried) | 7.0g |
| Cheesy Hashbrowns | 7.0g |
| 7 Piece Fried Shrimp | 7.9g |
| French Fries | 9.0g |
| Buffet - Fried Fish | 9.6g |
| Onion Rings | 10.0g |
| Buffet - Fried Chicken Livers | 10.0g |
| Buffet - Fried Pork Chops | 10.0g |
| Honey BBQ Baby Back Ribs (Full Rack) | 10.8g |
| Buffet - Boneless Wings | 11.0g |
| Buffet - Dirty Wings | 11.0g |
| Ranch Dressing (2 fl oz) | 12.6g |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 13.5g |
| 14 Piece Fried Shrimp | 15.7g |
| Fried Shrimp (21 pc / Shrimp Roundup) | 17.4g |
| Fish Fillet (fried) | 27.0g |
| Chicken Monterey | 29.4g |
Frequently asked
Does Ponderosa Steakhouse use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Ponderosa Steakhouse cooks with: soybean and corn oil (estimated). Across the 79 menu items we analyzed, it averages 4.4g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Ponderosa Steakhouse cook with?
Our research indicates: soybean/corn blend for frying (industry-standard; no official chain-level disclosure found); beef tallow for grilled steaks (standard steakhouse practice, consistent with PUFA estimates). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Ponderosa Steakhouse use beef tallow?
Yes, at least for some items. Our research indicates: soybean/corn blend for frying (industry-standard; no official chain-level disclosure found); beef tallow for grilled steaks (standard steakhouse practice, consistent with PUFA estimates). Beef tallow is far lower in PUFA than seed oils.
Is Ponderosa Steakhouse seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Ponderosa Steakhouse cooks with soybean and corn oil (estimated), which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Ponderosa Steakhouse?
Buffet - Meatloaf is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Ponderosa Steakhouse, at an estimated 0.7g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Ponderosa Steakhouse?
Chicken Monterey is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Ponderosa Steakhouse, at an estimated 29.4g 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
Texas Roadhouse · Outback Steakhouse · LongHorn Steakhouse · Logan's Roadhouse · Golden Corral · Smokey Mo's BBQ
See where Ponderosa Steakhouse 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.