What oil does A&W fry in?
A&W cooks with Fryer oil is high-oleic canola, not soybean. A&W's own ingredient statement on every fried item in its Interactive Nutrition Menu (awrestaurants.com/nutrition, data feed generated 2026-08-03) reads "Canola Oil: High Oleic Canola Oil and Dimethylpolysiloxane". Soybean oil remains in the buns and the mayo-style sauces..
The 5 cleanest things to order at A&W
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.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Marinara | 0.5g |
| Waffle Cone (Soft Serve) | 1.0g |
| M&M Polar Swirl (12 oz) | 1.4g |
| Onion Rings (Regular) | 1.6g |
| M&M Polar Swirl (16 oz) | 1.7g |
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 A&W report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does A&W use beef tallow?
No. A&W cooks with Fryer oil is high-oleic canola, not soybean. A&W's own ingredient statement on every fried item in its Interactive Nutrition Menu (awrestaurants.com/nutrition, data feed generated 2026-08-03) reads "Canola Oil: High Oleic Canola Oil and Dimethylpolysiloxane". Soybean oil remains in the buns and the mayo-style sauces., not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.