What oil does IHOP fry in?
IHOP cooks with Soybean oil (primary griddle and fryer oil per IHOP allergen guide); canola/soy blend used in some batter items; PUFA fraction 0.55 for fried/griddle items, 0.50 blended for batter items.
The 5 cleanest things to order at IHOP
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 |
|---|---|
| Grits | 0.0g |
| T-Bone Steak Dinner | 0.7g |
| Grilled Chicken Dinner | 0.7g |
| Jr. Waffle | 0.9g |
| Tomato Basil Soup | 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 IHOP report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does IHOP use beef tallow?
No. IHOP cooks with Soybean oil (primary griddle and fryer oil per IHOP allergen guide); canola/soy blend used in some batter items; PUFA fraction 0.55 for fried/griddle items, 0.50 blended for batter items, not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.