What oil does 16 Handles fry in?
16 Handles has not publicly confirmed exactly which oil it fries in. Here is what its menu tells us about the seed-oil load, and the cleanest things to order.
ALow Risk — 1.4g avg PUFA/item across 95 items
The 5 cleanest things to order at 16 Handles
| Nonfat Vanilla Bean Froyo (small) | 0.0g PUFA |
| Nonfat Vanilla Bean Froyo (medium) | 0.0g PUFA |
| Nonfat Vanilla Bean Froyo (large) | 0.0g PUFA |
| Nonfat Chocolate Froyo (small) | 0.0g PUFA |
| Nonfat Tart Froyo (small) | 0.0g PUFA |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Why the frying oil matters
Most fast-food chains fry in seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or a blend of them, which are high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). A handful still use beef tallow or other stable fats, which are far lower in PUFA. The oil a kitchen fries in is the single biggest driver of how much seed oil ends up on your plate. See the full breakdown on the 16 Handles report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.