What oil does KFC fry in?
KFC cooks with low-linolenic and refined soybean oil (fried chicken); some items in canola/soybean oil blends.
CHigh Risk — 8.7g avg PUFA/item across 59 items
The 5 cleanest things to order at KFC
| Green Beans | 0.0g PUFA |
| Lemonade | 0.0g PUFA |
| Mountain Dew | 0.0g PUFA |
| Dr. Pepper | 0.0g PUFA |
| Diet Pepsi | 0.0g PUFA |
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 KFC report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.