What this guide covers: Seed oil usage in Five Guys' menu items, based on their published ingredient documentation. Note: Five Guys uses peanut oil — anyone with a peanut allergy should not eat there.
Five Guys uses peanut oil exclusively for frying. Peanut oil is approximately 32% omega-6 linoleic acid — lower than soybean oil (54%) or sunflower oil (65%), but still significantly higher than traditional fats like lard or beef tallow. The beef patty itself is clean. The bun and condiments contain seed oils.
Five Guys' oil breakdown
No seed oil in the ingredient list
- ✓Beef patty Fresh beef, never frozen, no added oil per published documentation.
- ✓Lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapeños No oil. Fresh produce.
- ✓Grilled mushrooms Cooked on the grill without seed oil.
Contains seed oil or peanut oil
- ✗Fries (regular, Cajun) Cooked in peanut oil (~32% omega-6 linoleic acid).
- ✗Bun Contains soybean or canola oil depending on supplier.
- ✗Mayo Soybean oil-based.
- ✗Ketchup May contain seed oil derivatives.
How peanut oil compares to other frying oils
From this standpoint, peanut oil is a middle-ground frying fat — lower in omega-6 than sunflower or soybean oil, but higher than canola, and significantly higher than traditional animal fats. For diners who eat at Five Guys occasionally, the peanut oil fryer is less of a concern than ordering at Wingstop or In-N-Out.
Our Pick
Fatworks Pasture-Raised Beef Tallow
For frying at home without industrial oils. Tallow is approximately 4% omega-6 linoleic acid — far lower than any restaurant frying oil. Stable at high heat, rich flavor.
Frequently asked questions
Does Five Guys use seed oils?
Yes. Five Guys uses peanut oil for frying their fries and other items. Peanut oil is technically extracted from peanuts (which are legumes, not seeds in the botanical sense), but it is industrially refined and has a fatty acid profile similar to seed oils. It is approximately 32% linoleic acid (omega-6). This is lower than soybean oil (54%) or sunflower oil (65%), but higher than beef tallow or lard.
What oil does Five Guys fry in?
Five Guys uses peanut oil exclusively for frying. They are explicit about this because of peanut allergy concerns. Their fries, cooked in peanut oil, are one of the most recognized items on their menu.
Is peanut oil a seed oil?
Peanut oil is sometimes excluded from the 'seed oil' category because peanuts are legumes, not seeds in the botanical sense. However, refined peanut oil goes through similar industrial processing as canola and soybean oil — hexane extraction, degumming, bleaching, and deodorization. It is high in omega-6 linoleic acid (~32%). Whether you categorize it as a 'seed oil' or not, it shares the characteristics that concern people about seed oils.
Does the Five Guys burger patty have seed oil?
Per Five Guys' published ingredient information, the beef patty itself contains no added oil. They use fresh beef patties. However, the bun contains seed oils (soybean or canola oil depending on the bun supplier), and most Five Guys toppings (mayo, ketchup) contain soybean oil.
How does Five Guys compare to other chains on seed oils?
Five Guys uses peanut oil (~32% omega-6), which is lower in linoleic acid than the soybean oil (54%) Wingstop uses or the sunflower oil (65%) In-N-Out uses. However, it is still higher than traditional fats like lard (~10% omega-6) or beef tallow (~4% omega-6). Among major chains with fryers, Five Guys' peanut oil sits in the middle.
Sources
- Five Guys -- Nutrition and Allergen Information -- Primary source for oil and ingredient documentation
- USDA FoodData Central -- Peanut Oil nutrient profile -- Source for omega-6 linoleic acid percentage
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