What oil does Thorntons fry in?
Thorntons cooks with soybean/canola (fryer items: tenders, wings, donuts, hashbrowns, potato wedges, corn dogs); butter/shortening in biscuits & bakery. Thorntons does not publicly disclose fryer oil brand/type; soybean/canola assumed per typical US convenience-store default.
The 5 cleanest things to order at Thorntons
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 |
|---|---|
| Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage | 2.0g |
| All Beef Hot Dog | 2.0g |
| Salted Pretzel | 2.0g |
| Buffalo Chicken Rollerbite | 3.0g |
| Grilled Cheese | 4.0g |
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 Thorntons report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Thorntons use beef tallow?
No. Thorntons cooks with soybean/canola (fryer items: tenders, wings, donuts, hashbrowns, potato wedges, corn dogs); butter/shortening in biscuits & bakery. Thorntons does not publicly disclose fryer oil brand/type; soybean/canola assumed per typical US convenience-store default, not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.