Whataburger Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Whataburger cooks with: soybean oil and vegetable oil blend. Across the 172 menu items we analyzed, it averages 6.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
What oil does Whataburger fry in? The full answer
Compare Whataburger with: Five Guys · McDonald's
Eating at Whataburger soon? Build your order in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderAsk Whataburger to drop seed oils
9 people have 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 Whataburger
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) + Unsweet Tea (Small), 1.1g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Garden Salad | 0.5g |
| Burger Patty Only (No Bun) | 1.1g |
| Egg Sandwich | 2.9g |
| Apple & Cranberry Chicken Salad | 3.0g |
| Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuit Sandwich with Bacon | 3.5g |
Build your Whataburger 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 Whataburger
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| WhataWings 36 Piece Bundle | 67.3g |
| Family Fry Box | 44.1g |
| WhataWings 18 Bundle | 33.6g |
| Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich | 26.0g |
| Monterey Melt | 23.0g |
Every Whataburger item, ranked
All 172 items we have for Whataburger, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Apple Slices | 0.0g |
| Soft Drink | 0.0g |
| Spicy Ketchup | 0.0g |
| Honey BBQ Sauce | 0.0g |
| Fancy Ketchup | 0.0g |
| Prickly Pear Raspberry Whatafresher | 0.0g |
| Applesauce | 0.0g |
| Fruit Chews | 0.0g |
| Summer Peach Whatafresher | 0.0g |
| Strawberry Hibiscus Whatafresher | 0.0g |
| Unsweet Tea (Small) | 0.0g |
| Unsweet Tea (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Honest Apple Juice | 0.0g |
| Sweet Tea (Small) | 0.0g |
| Craft Lemonade (16 oz) | 0.0g |
| Craft Lemonade (20 oz) | 0.0g |
| Hot Coffee (Large) | 0.0g |
| Simply Orange Juice | 0.0g |
| Hot Coffee (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Sweet Tea (Large) | 0.0g |
| Unsweet Tea (Large) | 0.0g |
| Hot Coffee (Small) | 0.0g |
| Sweet Tea (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Sleigh Berry Whatafresher (16 oz) | 0.0g |
| Sleigh Berry Whatafresher (20 oz) | 0.0g |
| Sweet Tea Gallon | 0.0g |
| Unsweet Tea Gallon | 0.0g |
| Powerade Fruit Punch Gallon | 0.0g |
| Lemonade Gallon | 0.0g |
| Milk | 0.1g |
| Chocolate Milk | 0.1g |
| Cream Gravy | 0.3g |
| Iced Coffee | 0.4g |
| Flavored Hot Coffee (Medium) | 0.4g |
| Flavored Hot Coffee (Small) | 0.4g |
| Flavored Hot Coffee (Large) | 0.4g |
| Garden Salad | 0.5g |
| Strawberry Malt (Small) | 0.5g |
| Strawberry Malt (Medium) | 0.5g |
| Strawberry Shake (Small) | 0.5g |
| Chocolate Malt (Small) | 0.5g |
| Vanilla Shake (Small) | 0.5g |
| Vanilla Malt (Small) | 0.5g |
| Chocolate Shake (Small) | 0.5g |
| Vanilla Shake (Medium) | 0.6g |
| Strawberry Shake (Medium) | 0.6g |
| Chocolate Shake (Medium) | 0.6g |
| Vanilla Malt (Medium) | 0.6g |
| Chocolate Malt (Medium) | 0.6g |
| Peach Malt (Small) | 0.6g |
| Peach Shake (Small) | 0.6g |
| White Chocolate Raspberry Shake (Small) | 0.6g |
| Peach Shake (Medium) | 0.8g |
| Peach Malt (Medium) | 0.8g |
| White Chocolate Raspberry Shake (Medium) | 0.8g |
| Strawberry Malt (Large) | 0.9g |
| Cookie | 1.0g |
| Banana Pudding Malt | 1.0g |
| Buffalo Sauce | 1.0g |
| Peaches & Cream Shake | 1.0g |
| Chocolate Malt (Large) | 1.0g |
| Chocolate Shake (Large) | 1.0g |
| Strawberry Shake (Large) | 1.0g |
| Vanilla Malt (Large) | 1.0g |
| Burger Patty Only (No Bun) | 1.1g |
| Vanilla Shake (Large) | 1.1g |
| Peach Malt (Large) | 1.2g |
| Peach Shake (Large) | 1.2g |
| White Chocolate Raspberry Shake (Large) | 1.2g |
| Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuit | 1.5g |
| Cinnamon Roll | 1.8g |
| Buttermilk Biscuit | 1.9g |
| Buttermilk Biscuit with Bacon | 2.3g |
| Graham Crackers | 2.3g |
| Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuit with Bacon | 2.5g |
| Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuit with Egg & Cheese | 2.6g |
| Buttermilk Biscuit with Egg & Cheese | 2.7g |
| Egg Sandwich | 2.9g |
| Apple & Cranberry Chicken Salad | 3.0g |
| Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuit & Gravy | 3.4g |
| Brownie | 3.5g |
| Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuit Sandwich with Bacon | 3.5g |
| Cobb Salad | 3.6g |
| Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwich with Bacon | 3.6g |
| Breakfast on a Bun with Bacon | 3.8g |
| Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuit with Sausage | 4.0g |
| Signature Whatachick'n Sandwich | 4.1g |
| Premium Whatachick'n Sandwich | 4.1g |
| Hot Apple Pie | 4.2g |
| Bacon and Cheese Whataburger Jr. | 4.2g |
| Buttermilk Biscuit & Gravy | 4.3g |
| Buttermilk Biscuit with Sausage | 4.4g |
| Justaburger | 4.5g |
| #7 Whataburger Jr. | 4.5g |
| Chicken Fajita Taco | 4.5g |
| Taquito with Cheese & Bacon | 4.8g |
| #11 Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 5.0g |
| Taquito with Bacon | 5.2g |
| Taquito with Cheese & Sausage | 5.7g |
| Taquito with Cheese & Chorizo | 5.9g |
| Breakfast on a Bun with Sausage | 5.9g |
| Breakfast Bowl | 6.0g |
| Taquito with Sausage | 6.0g |
| Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuit Sandwich with Sausage | 6.0g |
| Double Meat Whataburger Jr. with Cheese | 6.1g |
| Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwich with Sausage | 6.4g |
| Hash Brown Sticks | 6.6g |
| Pancakes (3 pc) | 6.7g |
| Breakfast on a Bun Ranchero | 7.0g |
| Big Ranch Wrap | 7.0g |
| Pancake Platter with Bacon | 7.1g |
| Whatachick'n Bites (4 pc) | 7.2g |
| Breakfast Platter with Bacon | 7.2g |
| Whatasauce | 7.3g |
| #8 Double Meat Whataburger Jr. | 7.4g |
| Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burger Jr. | 7.4g |
| Whatachick'n Bites 5 pc | 8.0g |
| Taquito with Potato | 8.0g |
| #4 Jalapeno & Cheese Whataburger | 8.1g |
| Taquito with Cheese & Potato | 8.1g |
| #1 Whataburger | 8.4g |
| Small French Fries | 8.4g |
| Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich Jr. | 8.7g |
| Honey Mustard Sauce | 9.0g |
| Bacon Blaze Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 9.0g |
| Breakfast Platter with Sausage | 9.5g |
| Pancake Platter with Sausage | 9.6g |
| Onion Rings | 9.9g |
| Grilled Cheese | 10.2g |
| Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich Jr. | 10.2g |
| #5 Bacon & Cheese Whataburger | 10.7g |
| Whatachick'n Strips (2 pc) | 10.8g |
| #10 Whatachick'n Sandwich | 11.0g |
| Monterey Melt Jr. | 11.0g |
| Bacon Wrangler Chicken Sandwich | 11.2g |
| Whatachick'n Bites 6 pc | 11.4g |
| Bacon Wrangler Double Jr. | 11.7g |
| Bacon Blaze Jalapeño Double Jr. | 11.7g |
| Whatacatch Sandwich | 12.0g |
| Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit | 12.1g |
| Medium French Fries | 12.6g |
| Crispy Chicken Sandwich | 13.0g |
| Creamy Pepper Sauce | 13.0g |
| Honey Butter Sauce | 13.0g |
| Hot Honey Crisp Whatachick'n Sandwich | 13.0g |
| #12 Spicy Chicken Sandwich | 13.1g |
| Bacon Blaze Whatachick'n Sandwich | 13.2g |
| Whataburger Patty Melt Jr. | 13.8g |
| Buttermilk Ranch Dressing | 14.0g |
| Breakfast Burger | 14.6g |
| #2 Double Meat Whataburger | 15.0g |
| Whatacatch Dinner | 15.0g |
| Large Onion Rings | 15.0g |
| Bacon Blaze Spicy Chicken Sandwich | 15.5g |
| Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burger | 16.1g |
| #13 Whatachick'n Strips (3 pc) | 16.2g |
| Jalapeño Ranch Dressing | 16.5g |
| Large French Fries | 16.8g |
| #14 WhataWings (9 pc) | 16.8g |
| Whatachick'n Bites 9 pc | 16.8g |
| Chicken Strips (5 pc) | 17.0g |
| Whataburger Patty Melt | 18.3g |
| Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich | 19.9g |
| #3 Triple Meat Whataburger | 20.0g |
| #6 Avocado Bacon Burger | 20.1g |
| Bacon Wrangler Double | 21.3g |
| Bacon Blaze Jalapeño Double | 21.3g |
| Monterey Melt | 23.0g |
| Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich | 26.0g |
| WhataWings 18 Bundle | 33.6g |
| Family Fry Box | 44.1g |
| WhataWings 36 Piece Bundle | 67.3g |
Fry Oil History at Whataburger
Whataburger said in July 2007 that after about 18 months of testing it would phase in trans fat free cooking oils as they became available. Burgers, breakfast items and taquitos were due to be trans fat free by that fall. Source
Every documented oil switch across the industry lives on the Oil History timeline.
Frequently asked
Does Whataburger use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Whataburger cooks with: soybean oil and vegetable oil blend. Across the 172 menu items we analyzed, it averages 6.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
What oil does Whataburger cook with?
Our research indicates: zero-trans-fat soybean oil liquid shortening (fries, onion rings, all fried items). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Whataburger use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Whataburger cooks with soybean oil and vegetable oil blend, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Whataburger seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Whataburger cooks with soybean oil and vegetable oil blend, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Whataburger?
Garden Salad is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Whataburger, at an estimated 0.5g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Whataburger?
WhataWings 36 Piece Bundle is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Whataburger, at an estimated 67.3g 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
McDonald's · Burger King · Wendy's · Five Guys · In-N-Out Burger · Culver's
See where Whataburger 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.