What oil does Publix fry in?
Publix cooks with Corn and cottonseed oil blend in the deli fryers. Publix's own ingredient statements for its deli fried chicken, tenders and wings say "Fried In Corn And Cottonseed Oil Blend" (publix.com product data, services.publix.com, read 2026-10-20), for example on the Fried Chicken Thigh & Leg, the 8-Piece Mixed Fried Chicken, the Fried Chicken Tenders and the wings. The breading and seasonings also list small amounts of soy oil and canola oil. Publix prints no polyunsaturated fat, and the oil for its fried shrimp, onion rings, potato wedges, pizza and sushi was not readable (its product data sits behind a bot wall), so those are estimated..
The 5 cleanest things to order at Publix
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 |
|---|---|
| No Bread, Lettuce Base (Half) | 0.0g |
| No Bread, Lettuce Base (Whole) | 0.0g |
| No Bread, Spinach Base (Half) | 0.0g |
| No Bread, Spinach Base (Whole) | 0.0g |
| Jalapeno Pepper Jack Cheese (Half) | 0.3g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Build your Publix 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 orderWhy 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 Publix report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Publix use beef tallow?
No. Publix cooks with Corn and cottonseed oil blend in the deli fryers. Publix's own ingredient statements for its deli fried chicken, tenders and wings say "Fried In Corn And Cottonseed Oil Blend" (publix.com product data, services.publix.com, read 2026-10-20), for example on the Fried Chicken Thigh & Leg, the 8-Piece Mixed Fried Chicken, the Fried Chicken Tenders and the wings. The breading and seasonings also list small amounts of soy oil and canola oil. Publix prints no polyunsaturated fat, and the oil for its fried shrimp, onion rings, potato wedges, pizza and sushi was not readable (its product data sits behind a bot wall), so those are estimated., not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.