What oil does Steak 'n Shake fry in?
Steak 'n Shake cooks with Beef tallow for fries, tots, onion rings AND chicken tenders (100% beef tallow, no additives, preservatives or chemicals, per steaknshake.com/seed-oils); the supplier par-fry step for fries and tots was also switched off vegetable oil, so those two are fully seed-oil free; buns and some sauces still contain seed oils per the chain's own statement.
The 5 cleanest things to order at Steak 'n Shake
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 |
|---|---|
| Chicken Fingers (4 pc) | 1.0g |
| #2 Original Single Steakburger w/ Cheese | 2.0g |
| Single Steakburger | 2.0g |
| Double Steakburger | 2.0g |
| Chili Cheese Fries | 2.0g |
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 Steak 'n Shake report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Steak 'n Shake use beef tallow?
Yes, at least for some items. Steak 'n Shake uses: Beef tallow for fries, tots, onion rings AND chicken tenders (100% beef tallow, no additives, preservatives or chemicals, per steaknshake.com/seed-oils); the supplier par-fry step for fries and tots was also switched off vegetable oil, so those two are fully seed-oil free; buns and some sauces still contain seed oils per the chain's own statement. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.