Whataburger Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Whataburger cooks with: zero-trans-fat soybean oil liquid shortening (fries, onion rings, all fried items). Across the 116 menu items we analyzed, it averages 7.7g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
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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) + Iced Tea, 1.1g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Prickly Pear Raspberry Whatafresher | 0.0g |
| Strawberry Hibiscus Whatafresher | 0.0g |
| Fruit Chews | 0.0g |
| Summer Peach Whatafresher | 0.0g |
| Garden Salad | 0.5g |
What 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 116 items we have for Whataburger, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Apple Slices | 0.0g |
| Honey BBQ Sauce | 0.0g |
| Fancy Ketchup | 0.0g |
| Spicy Ketchup | 0.0g |
| Prickly Pear Raspberry Whatafresher | 0.0g |
| Strawberry Hibiscus Whatafresher | 0.0g |
| Applesauce | 0.0g |
| Fruit Chews | 0.0g |
| Summer Peach Whatafresher | 0.0g |
| Milk | 0.1g |
| Chocolate Milk | 0.1g |
| Cream Gravy | 0.3g |
| Iced Coffee | 0.4g |
| Garden Salad | 0.5g |
| Vanilla Shake (Small) | 0.5g |
| Chocolate Shake (Small) | 0.5g |
| Strawberry Shake (Small) | 0.5g |
| Vanilla Malt (Small) | 0.5g |
| Chocolate Malt (Small) | 0.5g |
| Strawberry Malt (Small) | 0.5g |
| Strawberry Malt (Medium) | 0.5g |
| Vanilla Shake (Medium) | 0.6g |
| Chocolate Shake (Medium) | 0.6g |
| Strawberry Shake (Medium) | 0.6g |
| Vanilla Malt (Medium) | 0.6g |
| Chocolate Malt (Medium) | 0.6g |
| Strawberry Malt (Large) | 0.9g |
| Banana Pudding Malt | 1.0g |
| Cookie | 1.0g |
| Buffalo Sauce | 1.0g |
| Peaches & Cream Shake | 1.0g |
| Chocolate Shake (Large) | 1.0g |
| Strawberry Shake (Large) | 1.0g |
| Vanilla Malt (Large) | 1.0g |
| Chocolate Malt (Large) | 1.0g |
| Burger Patty Only (No Bun) | 1.1g |
| Vanilla Shake (Large) | 1.1g |
| Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuit | 1.5g |
| Cinnamon Roll | 1.8g |
| Biscuit | 1.9g |
| Biscuit with Bacon | 2.3g |
| Graham Crackers | 2.3g |
| Egg and Cheese Biscuit | 2.7g |
| Egg Sandwich | 2.9g |
| Apple & Cranberry Chicken Salad | 3.0g |
| Brownie | 3.5g |
| Cobb Salad | 3.6g |
| Pancake Platter | 4.0g |
| Hot Apple Pie | 4.2g |
| Bacon and Cheese Whataburger Jr. | 4.2g |
| Biscuit and Gravy | 4.3g |
| Biscuit with Sausage | 4.4g |
| Justaburger | 4.5g |
| #7 Whataburger Jr. | 4.5g |
| Chicken Fajita Taco | 4.5g |
| Taquito with Bacon, Egg & Cheese | 4.8g |
| #11 Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 5.0g |
| Biscuit Sandwich | 5.0g |
| Taquito with Cheese | 5.0g |
| Taquito with Sausage, Egg & Cheese | 5.7g |
| Breakfast on a Bun | 6.0g |
| Breakfast Bowl | 6.0g |
| Hash Brown Sticks | 6.6g |
| Pancakes (3 pc) | 6.7g |
| Breakfast on a Bun Ranchero | 7.0g |
| Breakfast Platter | 7.0g |
| Big Ranch Wrap | 7.0g |
| Whatachick'n Bites (4 pc) | 7.2g |
| Whatasauce | 7.3g |
| #8 Double Meat Whataburger Jr. | 7.4g |
| Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burger Jr. | 7.4g |
| Breakfast on a Bun (Egg & Cheese) | 7.5g |
| Whatachick'n Bites 5 pc | 8.0g |
| #4 Jalapeno & Cheese Whataburger | 8.1g |
| Taquito with Potato, Egg & Cheese | 8.1g |
| #1 Whataburger | 8.4g |
| Small French Fries | 8.4g |
| Honey Mustard Sauce | 9.0g |
| Onion Rings | 9.9g |
| Grilled Cheese | 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 |
| Whatachick'n Bites 6 pc | 11.4g |
| 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 |
| Whataburger Patty Melt Jr. | 13.8g |
| Buttermilk Ranch Dressing | 14.0g |
| #2 Double Meat Whataburger | 15.0g |
| Whatacatch Dinner | 15.0g |
| Large Onion Rings | 15.0g |
| Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burger | 16.1g |
| 3pc Chicken Strips | 16.2g |
| #13 Whatachick'n Strips (3 pc) | 16.2g |
| Jalapeño Ranch Dressing | 16.5g |
| Large French Fries | 16.8g |
| Whatachick'n Bites 9 pc | 16.8g |
| #14 WhataWings (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 |
| 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: zero-trans-fat soybean oil liquid shortening (fries, onion rings, all fried items). Across the 116 menu items we analyzed, it averages 7.7g 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 zero-trans-fat soybean oil liquid shortening (fries, onion rings, all fried items), 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 zero-trans-fat soybean oil liquid shortening (fries, onion rings, all fried items), which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Whataburger?
Prickly Pear Raspberry Whatafresher is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Whataburger, at an estimated 0.0g 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 · Culver's · Shake Shack
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.