Steak 'n Shake Seed Oil Report Card
Source: Steak 'n Shake: Seed Oils, read October 20, 2026. Our fries, tots, onion rings, and chicken tenders are cooked in 100% beef tallow at our restaurants.
Based on our menu research, Steak 'n Shake fries in beef tallow, not seed oil, but the chain says it has not yet taken seed oils out of all its fried products and buns. Across the 107 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.1g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Steak 'n Shake fry in? The full answer
Eating at Steak 'n Shake soon? Build your order in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderSteak 'n Shake already cooks in real fats
No ask needed here. Reward them with your business, and see who else made the switch on Tallow Watch.
Safest Orders at Steak 'n Shake
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: Double Steakburger + Applesauce + Soft drink, 2.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Double Steakburger | 2.0g |
| Grilled Cheese | 2.9g |
| Bacon Double Steakburger | 3.0g |
| Buttermilk Pancakes | 3.0g |
| Patty Melt | 4.0g |
Build your Steak 'n Shake 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 Steak 'n Shake
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| #3 Frisco Melt | 18.0g |
| #6 Western BBQ 'n Bacon Steakburger | 17.1g |
| Onion Rings (Large) | 16.4g |
| Biscoff Milkshake | 15.7g |
| #5 Garlic Double Steakburger | 15.1g |
Every Steak 'n Shake item, ranked
All 107 items we have for Steak 'n Shake, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Applesauce | 0.0g |
| BBQ Sauce | 0.0g |
| Apple Juice | 0.0g |
| Red Bull Blue Raspberry Refresher | 0.0g |
| Red Bull Peach Refresher | 0.0g |
| Red Bull Strawberry Refresher | 0.0g |
| Sugar Free Red Bull Blue Raspberry Refresher | 0.0g |
| Sugar Free Red Bull Peach Refresher | 0.0g |
| Sugar Free Red Bull Strawberry Refresher | 0.0g |
| A2 Milk | 0.3g |
| Kids' Shake | 0.5g |
| Kids' Fries | 0.7g |
| Kids' Beef Tallow Tots | 0.8g |
| Root Beer Float | 1.0g |
| Garden Side Salad (no dressing) | 1.0g |
| Small Beef Tallow Fries | 1.0g |
| Kids Beef Tallow Crinkle Cut Fries | 1.1g |
| Hand-Dipped Milkshake | 1.3g |
| Vanilla Milkshake | 1.3g |
| Chocolate Milkshake | 1.3g |
| Strawberry Milkshake | 1.3g |
| Banana Milkshake | 1.3g |
| Cotton Candy Milkshake | 1.3g |
| Tater Tots (Small) | 1.3g |
| Oreo Cookies 'n Cream Milkshake | 1.5g |
| Mint Oreo Milkshake | 1.5g |
| Snickers Milkshake | 1.5g |
| M&M's Milkshake | 1.6g |
| Butterfinger Milkshake | 1.6g |
| Kit Kat Milkshake | 1.7g |
| Famous Fries (regular) | 1.8g |
| Double Steakburger | 2.0g |
| Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake | 2.0g |
| Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake (seasonal) | 2.0g |
| Hot Fudge Sundae | 2.0g |
| Bacon Cheese Fries | 2.0g |
| Chicken Fingers Meal (4 pc with fries) | 2.0g |
| Kids' Steakburger Meal | 2.0g |
| Kids' Cheeseburger Meal | 2.0g |
| Buffalo Sauce | 2.0g |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Milkshake | 2.6g |
| Medium Beef Tallow Crinkle Cut Fries | 2.6g |
| Tater Tots (Large) | 2.7g |
| Grilled Cheese | 2.9g |
| Bacon Double Steakburger | 3.0g |
| #8 Butter Single Steakburger | 3.0g |
| Kids' Chicken Fingers Meal (2 pc) | 3.0g |
| Buttermilk Pancakes | 3.0g |
| Nutella Milkshake | 3.3g |
| Orange Dreamsicle Freeze | 3.3g |
| Birthday Cake Milkshake | 3.6g |
| Famous Fries (Large) | 3.7g |
| Large Beef Tallow Crinkle Cut Fries | 3.7g |
| Cheese Fries (Small) | 3.8g |
| Patty Melt | 4.0g |
| Breakfast Skillet (sausage or bacon) | 4.0g |
| Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit | 4.0g |
| Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit | 4.0g |
| Chili (cup) | 4.2g |
| Chili Mac | 4.3g |
| 7x7 Steakburger | 5.0g |
| Crispy Chicken Sandwich | 5.0g |
| #2 Original Single Steakburger w/ Cheese | 5.2g |
| Frisco Sauce | 5.5g |
| Butter Double Steakburger | 5.6g |
| Cheese Tots (Small) | 5.6g |
| Chili Cheese Fries (Small) | 5.7g |
| Single Steakburger | 5.8g |
| Cheese Fries (Regular) | 6.2g |
| Honey Mustard Sauce | 6.5g |
| Chili (bowl) | 6.8g |
| Chicago Dog | 7.0g |
| Classic Footlong Hot Dog | 7.0g |
| Cheese Fries (Large) | 7.0g |
| Bacon 'n Cheese Single Steakburger | 7.1g |
| Chili Cheese Tots (Small) | 7.5g |
| Double Steakburger Double Cheese | 7.6g |
| Brownie | 7.7g |
| Chili 5 Way | 7.7g |
| Cheese Tots (Medium) | 7.9g |
| Bacon Lettuce 'n Tomato Sandwich | 8.0g |
| Chili Cheese Footlong Hot Dog | 8.0g |
| Onion Rings (Regular) | 8.2g |
| Protein Bowl | 8.3g |
| Chili Cheese Fries (Regular) | 8.4g |
| Medium Beef Tallow Cheese Crinkle Cut Fries | 8.5g |
| #1 Original Double Steakburger with Cheese | 8.7g |
| Ranch Sauce | 9.0g |
| 3 PC Chicken Fingers | 9.1g |
| Bitcoin Burger | 9.1g |
| Chili Cheese Tots (Medium) | 10.0g |
| Garlic Single Steakburger | 10.1g |
| Cheese Tots (Large) | 10.2g |
| #4 Bacon 'n Cheese Double Steakburger | 10.6g |
| Medium Beef Tallow Chili Cheese Crinkle Cut Fries | 10.6g |
| Chili Cheese Fries (Large) | 10.9g |
| Triple Steakburger | 11.5g |
| Reese's Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshake | 11.7g |
| Large Beef Tallow Cheese Crinkle Cut Fries | 12.0g |
| Chili Cheese Tots (Large) | 13.3g |
| Triple Steakburger w/ Cheese | 13.5g |
| Large Beef Tallow Chili Cheese Crinkle Cut Fries | 14.2g |
| #5 Garlic Double Steakburger | 15.1g |
| Biscoff Milkshake | 15.7g |
| Onion Rings (Large) | 16.4g |
| #6 Western BBQ 'n Bacon Steakburger | 17.1g |
| #3 Frisco Melt | 18.0g |
Fry Oil History at Steak 'n Shake
Cooking in 100% beef tallow since March 2025.
On March 16, 2026 the chain launched tots fried in 100% beef tallow and pointed out that tots were made that way when they were invented in the 1950s. Source
In October 2025 the chain posted that fries with even a trace of seed oil would no longer be served. That closed out the supplier side of the change that started back in January. Source
The old buttery blend had seed oils in it. The chain posted in March 2025 that starting April 2 every restaurant would use 100% Grade A Wisconsin butter instead. Source
The chain announced on February 24 that some stores were already running tallow, and by March 1, 2025 all of its restaurants had made the change. It also worked with its supplier to drop the vegetable oil used to par fry the fries before shipping. Source
The chain put out a press release on January 16, 2025 saying every location would fry its shoestring fries in 100% all natural beef tallow instead of vegetable oil by the end of February. Source
Every documented oil switch across the industry lives on the Oil History timeline.
Frequently asked
Does Steak 'n Shake use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Steak 'n Shake fries in beef tallow, not seed oil, but the chain says it has not yet taken seed oils out of all its fried products and buns. Across the 107 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.1g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Steak 'n Shake cook with?
Our research indicates: Beef tallow for fries, tots, onion rings AND chicken tenders (100% beef tallow, no additives, preservatives or chemicals, per steaknshake.com/seed-oils); the supplier's par-cook step for fries and tots no longer uses vegetable oil either, so those two are fully seed-oil free; the chain's own page says eliminating seed oils "from all fried products and buns" will take more time (read 2026-10-20). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Steak 'n Shake use beef tallow?
Yes. Our research indicates Steak 'n Shake fries in beef tallow. Beef tallow is far lower in PUFA than seed oils.
Is Steak 'n Shake seed oil free?
Not fully. Our research indicates Steak 'n Shake fries in beef tallow, but the chain says it has not yet taken seed oils out of all its fried products and buns. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Steak 'n Shake?
Patty Melt is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Steak 'n Shake, at an estimated 4.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Steak 'n Shake?
#3 Frisco Melt is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Steak 'n Shake, at an estimated 18.0g 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.
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See where Steak 'n Shake 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.