Ponderosa Steakhouse Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Ponderosa Steakhouse cooks with: 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). Across the 74 menu items we analyzed, it averages 4.3g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
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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 |
|---|---|
| Chocolate Pudding | 0.0g |
| Carrots | 0.0g |
| Cherry Cobbler | 0.0g |
| Peach Cobbler | 0.0g |
| Soft Serve, Chocolate | 0.0g |
What 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 |
| Ranch Dressing (2 fl oz) | 12.6g |
Every Ponderosa Steakhouse item, ranked
All 74 items we have for Ponderosa Steakhouse, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Chocolate Pudding | 0.0g |
| Loaded Mashed Potatoes | 0.0g |
| Carrots | 0.0g |
| Cherry Cobbler | 0.0g |
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Peach Cobbler | 0.0g |
| Soft Serve, Chocolate | 0.0g |
| Stewed Tomatoes | 0.0g |
| Steak Sauce | 0.0g |
| Milk | 0.4g |
| Buffet - Meatloaf | 0.7g |
| Buffet - Macaroni and 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 |
| Green Beans | 1.0g |
| Buffet - Stuffed Peppers | 1.0g |
| Glazed Strawberries | 1.0g |
| Country Cabbage | 1.0g |
| Vanilla Ice Cream | 1.0g |
| Cauliflower with Cheese | 1.0g |
| Stuffing | 1.0g |
| Steamed Broccoli | 1.0g |
| Chocolate Chip Cookies | 1.0g |
| Sweet Corn | 1.0g |
| Cheesecake | 1.0g |
| 8oz Sirloin Steak (grilled) | 1.1g |
| 6 oz Top Sirloin | 1.1g |
| Grilled Chicken | 1.3g |
| 10 oz Top Sirloin | 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 |
| Mashed Potatoes | 2.0g |
| Sirloin Tips | 2.0g |
| Chicken Wings (buffet) | 2.2g |
| Buffet - Chicken Pot Pie | 3.0g |
| Blackberry Cobbler | 3.0g |
| Salad Bar | 3.0g |
| Coconut Cream Pie | 3.0g |
| No Bake Cookies | 3.0g |
| 1/2 lb Black Angus Chopped Steak | 3.4g |
| Double Sirloin Tips | 3.4g |
| Buffet - Orange Chipotle Pulled Pork | 4.0g |
| Buffet - Chicken and Dumplings | 4.0g |
| Chocolate Oreo Cream Dessert | 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 |
| 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 |
| Italian Dressing (2 tbsp) | 8.0g |
| 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 |
| Buffet - Boneless Wings | 11.0g |
| Buffet - Dirty Wings | 11.0g |
| Ranch Dressing (2 fl oz) | 12.6g |
| 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/corn blend for frying (industry-standard; no official chain-level disclosure found); beef tallow for grilled steaks (standard steakhouse practice, consistent with PUFA estimates). Across the 74 menu items we analyzed, it averages 4.3g 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/corn blend for frying (industry-standard; no official chain-level disclosure found); beef tallow for grilled steaks (standard steakhouse practice, consistent with PUFA estimates), which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Ponderosa Steakhouse?
Chocolate Pudding is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Ponderosa Steakhouse, at an estimated 0.0g 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
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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.