What oil does First Watch fry in?
First Watch has no deep fryer.
In detail: no deep fryer in store; First Watch markets "no fryers, heat lamps, or microwaves" as a core scratch-kitchen brand promise. Potatoes/hash are seared or griddled in oil (secondary sources, including copycat recipes and a seed-oil review site, consistently point to canola oil), eggs are cooked with butter or margarine, and a Vegalene-brand pan spray is used as a release agent (a dairy-free version is kept on hand for allergy requests).
Ordering at First Watch? Build your meal in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderFirst Watch at a glance
| Fry oil (US) | No deep fryer |
| Seed oils | No fryer, but in some items |
| Beef tallow | No |
| Peanut oil | No |
| Seed oil grade | C (7.2 g average per item, 164 items) |
The 5 cleanest things to order at First Watch
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 |
|---|---|
| Steel-Cut Oatmeal | 1.0g |
| The Triathlete (eggs, turkey, avo) | 1.4g |
| Tri-Athlete | 1.4g |
| Healthy Turkey | 1.5g |
| Power Wrap | 2.7g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Build your First Watch order
Pick your meal, sides, sauces and drink in the app and see your seed oil total before you order. It logs to your day in one tap. Free on iPhone and Android.
Build my orderWhat oil do other chains like First Watch use?
- What oil does IHOP use? Soybean oil
- What oil does Denny's use? Soybean and canola oil
- What oil does Waffle House use? Soybean oil
- What oil does Cracker Barrel use? Soybean oil
- What oil does Bob Evans use? Soybean oil
- What oil does Perkins Restaurant & Bakery use? Soybean and canola oil
- What oil does Huddle House use? Soybean oil
- What oil does Black Bear Diner use? Soybean oil
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 First Watch report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.
Frequently asked
What oil does First Watch fry in?
First Watch has no deep fryer. In detail: no deep fryer in store; First Watch markets "no fryers, heat lamps, or microwaves" as a core scratch-kitchen brand promise. Potatoes/hash are seared or griddled in oil (secondary sources, including copycat recipes and a seed-oil review site, consistently point to canola oil), eggs are cooked with butter or margarine, and a Vegalene-brand pan spray is used as a release agent (a dairy-free version is kept on hand for allergy requests).
Does First Watch use seed oils?
First Watch has no deep fryer. Seed oils still show up in other items, so check the grams for each one.
Does First Watch use beef tallow?
No. First Watch has no deep fryer.
Does First Watch use peanut oil?
Not that we can find. First Watch has no deep fryer. If you have a peanut allergy, ask the restaurant directly, because oils and suppliers can vary by location.
What is the lowest seed oil order at First Watch?
Power Wrap (2.7 g of polyunsaturated fat). Next: Superfood Kale & Quinoa Bowl (3.0 g) and Cobb Salad (3.8 g).
Which First Watch item has the most seed oil?
Farmhouse Skillet Hash, at about 57.0 g of polyunsaturated fat as listed.