What oil does Cracker Barrel fry in?
Cracker Barrel cooks with Soybean oil (disclosed in Cracker Barrel allergen/ingredient documentation; used for all frying including chicken, okra, catfish, and baking shortening).
The 5 cleanest things to order at Cracker Barrel
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 |
|---|---|
| Fresh Fruit | 0.0g |
| Lil' Barrel Cheeseburger | 1.9g |
| Country Ham Slice | 1.9g |
| Turnip Greens | 2.0g |
| Banana Pudding | 2.0g |
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 Cracker Barrel report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Cracker Barrel use beef tallow?
No. Cracker Barrel cooks with Soybean oil (disclosed in Cracker Barrel allergen/ingredient documentation; used for all frying including chicken, okra, catfish, and baking shortening), not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.