What oil does Lou Malnati's fry in?
Lou Malnati's cooks with Buttercrust (butter-based dough), Wisconsin whole-milk mozzarella, sausage/pork fat; minimal soybean oil.
The 5 cleanest things to order at Lou Malnati'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 |
|---|---|
| Lou's Italian Ice | 0.0g |
| Minestrone Soup | 2.0g |
| Soup Di Giorno | 2.0g |
| Burger Patty Only (No Bun) | 2.0g |
| Deep Dish Cheese Pizza (1 slice, small) | 3.0g |
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 Lou Malnati's report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Lou Malnati's use beef tallow?
No. Lou Malnati's cooks with Buttercrust (butter-based dough), Wisconsin whole-milk mozzarella, sausage/pork fat; minimal soybean oil, not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.