What oil does First Watch fry in?
First Watch cooks with 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)..
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 |
|---|---|
| Fresh Seasonal Fruit | 0.0g |
| Cheesy Grits | 0.3g |
| Tomato Basil Soup Cup | 0.5g |
| Million Dollar Bloody Mary | 0.7g |
| Steel-Cut Oatmeal | 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 First Watch report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does First Watch use beef tallow?
No. First Watch cooks with 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)., not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.