Taco Time Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Taco Time cooks with: canola oil. Across the 100 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Taco Time fry in? The full answer
Eating at Taco Time soon? Build your order in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
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Safest Orders at Taco Time
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) + Coffee, 2.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Casita Burrito (Chicken) | 2.1g |
| Grilled Steak Quesadilla | 2.9g |
| Fresh Veggie Taco Salad | 3.0g |
| Crispy Taco (beef) | 3.1g |
| Soft Taco (chicken) | 3.1g |
Build your Taco Time 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 Taco Time
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Stuffed Mexi-Fries (Large) | 17.7g |
| Natural-Cut Fries (large) | 16.0g |
| Ultimate Burrito | 13.3g |
| Mexi-Fries (large) | 12.9g |
| Stuffed Mexi-Fries (Regular) | 12.1g |
Around the world: Taco Time
Mexi-Fries (regular) has 4.3g of PUFA in Canada but 11.0g in the US. Same chain. Why not here?
We have Taco Time in 2 countries. Here is what it cooks with in each one, and how the same menu items compare.
| Country | Cooks with | Mexi-Fries (large) | Mexi-Fries (regular) | Crisp Beef Bites | Chicken Quesadilla | Cherry Empanada | Apple Empanada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. (this page) | canola oil | 12.9g | 11.0g | 8.0g | 4.8g | 1.9g | 1.9g |
| Canada | canola oil | 8.6g | 4.3g | 1.5g | 3.7g | 4.5g | 1.0g |
Items are matched by name, so portions and recipes can differ between countries. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item. Oil notes are as each country's chain discloses them.
Every Taco Time item, ranked
All 100 items we have for Taco Time, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Limeade | 0.0g |
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Black Beans | 0.0g |
| Mexican Rice | 0.1g |
| Sour Cream | 0.2g |
| Refried Beans (side) | 0.3g |
| Guacamole | 0.6g |
| Kids Mini Quesadilla | 0.9g |
| Apple Empanada | 1.9g |
| Cherry Empanada | 1.9g |
| Bavarian Cream Empanada | 1.9g |
| Ice Cream Taco Bowl | 2.0g |
| Casita Burrito (Chicken) | 2.1g |
| Casa Sauce | 2.3g |
| Strawberry Cheesecake Empanada | 2.6g |
| Grilled Steak Quesadilla | 2.9g |
| Cinnamon Crustos | 3.0g |
| Fresh Veggie Taco Salad | 3.0g |
| Cinnamon Donut Bites | 3.0g |
| Crispy Taco (beef) | 3.1g |
| Soft Taco (chicken) | 3.1g |
| Crisp Beef Taco | 3.1g |
| Crisp Burrito (chicken) | 3.2g |
| Bean Burrito | 3.2g |
| Big Juan Burrito (Chicken) | 3.2g |
| Grilled Steak Burrito | 3.2g |
| Taco Salad (chicken) | 3.3g |
| Taco Salad (beef) | 3.3g |
| Crisp Burrito (beef) | 3.4g |
| Green Chili Pork Enchilada | 3.4g |
| Avocado Ranch | 3.6g |
| Green Chili Pork Burrito | 3.8g |
| Bacon & Egg Burrito (Small) | 3.8g |
| Soft Burrito (beef) | 3.9g |
| Soft Taco (beef) | 3.9g |
| Beef Burrito | 4.0g |
| Churros with Dip | 4.0g |
| Classic Churros with Chocolate Dip | 4.0g |
| Cheese Quesadilla | 4.1g |
| Super Soft Taco (chicken) | 4.4g |
| Green Chili Pork Chimichanga | 4.4g |
| Casita Burrito (Pork) | 4.4g |
| Casita Burrito (Seasoned Beef) | 4.4g |
| Churro | 4.5g |
| Chipotle Ranch | 4.5g |
| Fiesta Chicken Salad | 4.6g |
| Mexi-Fries Kid's Size | 4.7g |
| Super Soft Taco (beef) | 4.8g |
| Sweet Pork Burrito | 4.8g |
| Chicken Quesadilla | 4.8g |
| Breakfast Quesadilla | 4.8g |
| Junior Beef Burrito | 5.0g |
| Biscuits & Gravy | 5.0g |
| Egg & Tater Burrito (Small) | 5.0g |
| Sausage & Egg Burrito (Small) | 5.0g |
| Crisp Pinto Bean Burrito | 5.3g |
| Soft Taco (pork) | 5.5g |
| Big Juan Burrito (Seasoned Beef) | 5.6g |
| Big Juan Burrito (Pork) | 5.6g |
| Sausage & Egg Burrito | 5.7g |
| Fire Roasted Poblano Steak Burrito | 5.7g |
| Super Soft Taco (pork) | 5.9g |
| Breakfast Burrito (egg & cheese) | 6.0g |
| Classic Refrito Bean Burrito | 6.0g |
| Taters & Gravy (Small) | 6.0g |
| Veggie Burrito | 6.3g |
| Egg & Tater Burrito | 6.5g |
| Ranch Dressing | 6.6g |
| 5 Alarm Burrito | 6.8g |
| Crisp Meat Burrito | 7.0g |
| Chicken & Black Bean Burrito | 7.0g |
| Mexi-Fries Small | 7.0g |
| Fry Sauce | 7.0g |
| Bavarian Cream Churro | 7.0g |
| Bacon & Egg Burrito | 7.1g |
| Thousand Island | 7.2g |
| Original Nachos | 7.3g |
| Chicken Burrito | 8.0g |
| Crisp Beef Bites | 8.0g |
| Loaded Taco Salad | 8.0g |
| Kids Corn Dog Bites | 8.0g |
| Chicken Nachos | 8.1g |
| Stuffed Mexi-Fries (Small) | 8.3g |
| Seasoned Beef Nachos | 8.5g |
| Pork Nachos | 8.5g |
| Chicken BLT Burrito | 9.0g |
| Cheddar Mexi-Fries | 9.0g |
| Kids Chicken Tenders | 9.0g |
| Country Burrito | 9.2g |
| Natural-Cut Fries (regular) | 10.0g |
| Taco Cheeseburger | 10.1g |
| Ranch Chicken Burrito | 10.8g |
| Mexi-Fries (regular) | 11.0g |
| Taters & Gravy | 11.1g |
| Burrito Deluxe (beef) | 12.0g |
| Stuffed Mexi-Fries (Regular) | 12.1g |
| Mexi-Fries (large) | 12.9g |
| Ultimate Burrito | 13.3g |
| Natural-Cut Fries (large) | 16.0g |
| Stuffed Mexi-Fries (Large) | 17.7g |
Frequently asked
Does Taco Time use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Taco Time cooks with: canola oil. Across the 100 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Taco Time cook with?
Our research indicates: Canola in the fryers, per TacoTime's own ingredient statement: taco shells, chips, crisp burritos and Mexi-Fries are fried in canola. The Mexi-Fries arrive pre-fried in a soybean/canola shortening. Ranch and other sauces are soybean/canola mayo; seasoned beef and cheddar carry the saturated fat. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Taco Time use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Taco Time cooks with canola oil, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Taco Time seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Taco Time cooks with canola oil, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Taco Time?
Casita Burrito (Chicken) is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Taco Time, at an estimated 2.1g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Taco Time?
Stuffed Mexi-Fries (Large) is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Taco Time, at an estimated 17.7g 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 Taco Time 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.