What oil does Shake Shack fry in?
Shake Shack fries in soybean oil.
In detail: Soybean oil for crinkle fries and all fried chicken; ShackSauce is a soybean-oil mayo. Burgers are griddled beef (low PUFA) but most come with ShackSauce.
Ordering at Shake Shack? Build your meal in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderShake Shack at a glance
| Fry oil (US) | Soybean oil |
| Seed oils | Yes |
| Beef tallow | No |
| Peanut oil | No |
| Seed oil grade | B (5.9 g average per item, 145 items) |
| Is it a seed oil? | Soybean oil: Yes |
The 5 cleanest things to order at Shake Shack
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 |
|---|---|
| Veggie Shack (double) | 2.2g |
| Grilled Cheese | 2.4g |
| Hamburger | 2.5g |
| Cheese Dog | 2.6g |
| ShackBurger (no ShackSauce) | 2.9g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Build your Shake Shack 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 orderHow Shake Shack has changed its frying oil
Starting September 18, 2023 Shake Shack fried everything in Zero Acre oil instead of soybean oil at its Hudson Yards and Battery Park City locations. It was a two store test tied to NYC Climate Week and covered crinkle cut fries, the Chicken Shack, Chicken Bites and the fried veggie items. Source
Every documented oil switch across the industry lives on the Oil History timeline.
What oil do other chains like Shake Shack use?
- What oil does McDonald's use? Canola and soybean oil
- What oil does Burger King use? Corn and cottonseed oil
- What oil does Wendy's use? Canola and cottonseed oil
- What oil does Five Guys use? Peanut oil
- What oil does In-N-Out Burger use? Sunflower oil
- What oil does Whataburger use? Soybean oil and vegetable oil blend
- What oil does Culver's use? Canola oil
- What oil does Smashburger use? Beef tallow
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 Shake Shack report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.
Frequently asked
What oil does Shake Shack fry in?
Shake Shack fries in soybean oil. In detail: Soybean oil for crinkle fries and all fried chicken; ShackSauce is a soybean-oil mayo. Burgers are griddled beef (low PUFA) but most come with ShackSauce.
Does Shake Shack use seed oils?
Yes. Shake Shack fries in soybean oil. Its seed oil grade is B, about 5.9 g of polyunsaturated fat per menu item.
Does Shake Shack use beef tallow?
No. Shake Shack fries in soybean oil, not beef tallow.
Does Shake Shack use peanut oil?
Not that we can find. Shake Shack fries in soybean oil. If you have a peanut allergy, ask the restaurant directly, because oils and suppliers can vary by location.
What is the lowest seed oil order at Shake Shack?
Hot Dog (2.9 g of polyunsaturated fat). Next: Cheeseburger (2.9 g) and Cheeseburger (double) (4.0 g).
Which Shake Shack item has the most seed oil?
Black Truffle Parmesan Fries, at about 28.7 g of polyunsaturated fat as listed.