The Original Pancake House Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, The Original Pancake House cooks with: clarified/rendered butter on the griddle for Apple Pancake, Dutch Baby, potato pancakes, French toast, crepes and GF pancakes (no peanut oil); standard buttermilk pancake and waffle batters and general food prep use peanut oil per chain allergen notice (official consumer-information page + franchise menu allergen statements). Across the 18 menu items we analyzed, it averages 2.6g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of A (Low Risk).
Safest Orders at The Original Pancake House
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: French Crepes, 1.0g total
| Swedish Pancakes | 1.0g PUFA |
| French Crepes | 1.0g PUFA |
| Bacon (3 slices) | 1.0g PUFA |
| Hickory Smoked Ham | 1.0g PUFA |
| Potato Pancakes | 2.0g PUFA |
What to Avoid at The Original Pancake House
| Cinnamon Bun Pancakes | 5.0g PUFA |
| Denver Omelette | 5.0g PUFA |
| Buttermilk Pancakes (Full Stack) | 4.0g PUFA |
| Blueberry Pancakes | 4.0g PUFA |
| Belgian Waffle | 4.0g PUFA |
Frequently asked
Does The Original Pancake House use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, The Original Pancake House cooks with: clarified/rendered butter on the griddle for Apple Pancake, Dutch Baby, potato pancakes, French toast, crepes and GF pancakes (no peanut oil); standard buttermilk pancake and waffle batters and general food prep use peanut oil per chain allergen notice (official consumer-information page + franchise menu allergen statements). Across the 18 menu items we analyzed, it averages 2.6g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of A (Low Risk).
What oil does The Original Pancake House cook with?
Our research indicates: clarified/rendered butter on the griddle for Apple Pancake, Dutch Baby, potato pancakes, French toast, crepes and GF pancakes (no peanut oil); standard buttermilk pancake and waffle batters and general food prep use peanut oil per chain allergen notice (official consumer-information page + franchise menu allergen statements). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does The Original Pancake House use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates The Original Pancake House cooks with clarified/rendered butter on the griddle for Apple Pancake, Dutch Baby, potato pancakes, French toast, crepes and GF pancakes (no peanut oil); standard buttermilk pancake and waffle batters and general food prep use peanut oil per chain allergen notice (official consumer-information page + franchise menu allergen statements), not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is The Original Pancake House seed oil free?
Largely yes. Our research indicates The Original Pancake House cooks with clarified/rendered butter on the griddle for Apple Pancake, Dutch Baby, potato pancakes, French toast, crepes and GF pancakes (no peanut oil); standard buttermilk pancake and waffle batters and general food prep use peanut oil per chain allergen notice (official consumer-information page + franchise menu allergen statements), which is not an industrial seed oil. Preparation can vary by location.
What is the safest thing to order at The Original Pancake House?
Swedish Pancakes is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at The Original Pancake House, at an estimated 1.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at The Original Pancake House?
Cinnamon Bun Pancakes is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at The Original Pancake House, at an estimated 5.0g 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. Curious why people avoid them? Read the evidence.
Compare other chains
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See where The Original Pancake House 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.