What oil does Culver's fry in?
Culver's cooks with canola/high-oleic canola oil blend (crinkle-cut fries, cheese curds); does not use beef tallow.
The 5 cleanest things to order at Culver's
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 |
|---|---|
| Lemon Ice | 0.0g |
| Sweet Baby Ray's® BBQ | 0.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 1.0g |
| Vanilla Fresh Frozen Custard (2 scoops) | 1.0g |
| Chocolate Fresh Frozen Custard (2 scoops) | 1.0g |
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 Culver's report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Culver's use beef tallow?
Yes, at least for some items. Culver's uses: canola/high-oleic canola oil blend (crinkle-cut fries, cheese curds); does not use beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.