Two separate claims here, with two different strengths of evidence. Steaks with butter is confirmed directly by Bloomin' Brands' own VP of Research & Development. The Bloomin' Onion fried in beef tallow is reported consistently across multiple food-industry outlets, but we couldn't find a named Outback spokesperson confirming it on the record, or a source specifying when the practice started, and we found no sourced claim at all for the fries or the Aussie Chicken Crispers.
What oil Outback uses
Steaks are seasoned and cooked on a wood-fired grill, finished with butter. This is confirmed directly: Bloomin' Brands VP of Research & Development Efrem Cutler told Tasting Table, "We cook our steaks with butter," specifically to refute a viral claim that steaks were cooked in tallow.
Separately, multiple food-industry outlets (Tasting Table, Chowhound) report that Outback fries its Bloomin' Onion, and Bloomin' Fried Shrimp, in beef tallow. That's well-corroborated across independent outlets, but none of them quote a named Outback representative confirming it, or specify when the practice started, so we treat it as reported rather than company-confirmed. We could not find any sourced claim, first-party or otherwise, about what the French fries or Aussie Chicken Crispers are cooked in.
What's actually confirmed vs. well-reported
✓ = company-confirmed on the record. ~ = reported by multiple food outlets, no named Outback source found.
- ✓Steaks (all cuts) Wood-fired grill, finished with butter. Directly confirmed by Bloomin' Brands VP of R&D.
- ~Bloomin' Onion (the onion itself) Fried in beef tallow, per multiple food-industry outlets. No named Outback source found, and no source specifies when the practice started. Dipping sauce is separate, see cautions below.
- ~Bloomin' Fried Shrimp Reported fried in the same beef tallow as the Bloomin' Onion, same sourcing caveat.
- ~Grilled chicken and seafood Wood-fired grill, same method as steaks. No specific published statement, but consistent with the grill's confirmed no-added-oil approach.
- ✓Bread service (butter) Served with butter, not a seed-oil spread.
Watch out for
- ⚠French fries We found no source, first-party or otherwise, naming what oil Outback's fries are cooked in. Don't assume the Bloomin' Onion's tallow claim carries over.
- ⚠Aussie Chicken Crispers Same gap: no source names an oil for this item specifically. Ask before ordering if avoiding seed oils is a priority.
- ⚠Bloomin' Onion dipping sauce The onion is reported fried in tallow; the sauce is a creamy condiment that likely contains soybean or canola oil.
- ⚠Salad dressings Ranch, Thousand Island, and similar dressings typically contain soybean oil. Ask for olive oil + vinegar or a dressing that lists its ingredients.
- ⚠Bread The brown bread served at the table is likely a commercial product with seed oils in the dough. The butter it comes with is clean.
- ⚠Specialty sauces Item-specific sauces (honey mustard, some marinades) may contain seed oils. Check Outback's allergen guide for specifics.
How to order at Outback if you're avoiding seed oils
The cleanest order at Outback: a steak or grilled protein, a plain baked potato with butter, and a side salad with olive oil and vinegar instead of the house dressing. The entire meal from the grill and the potato is seed-oil-free by sourcing.
If you want fried food: the Bloomin' Onion is well-reported as fried in beef tallow, among the cleanest fried appetizers you'll find at a major chain, though it's not an on-record Outback statement. We don't have a sourced answer for the fries, so ask before ordering if that matters to you. Skip the dipping sauces or ask what the sauce contains.
Our Pick
Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo
For the sauces you can't get at the restaurant. Avocado oil-based mayo for dipping or condiment replacement. No soybean or canola oil.
Frequently asked questions
Does Outback Steakhouse use seed oils?
Steaks are cooked with butter, not seed oil, per Bloomin' Brands VP of Research & Development Efrem Cutler, who confirmed this directly to Tasting Table. For frying, Outback cooks its Bloomin' Onion in beef tallow, per multiple food-industry outlets, though this is reported, not a direct on-record Outback quote we could independently confirm, and neither outlet specifies when this practice started. We couldn't find any source, first-party or otherwise, naming a specific oil for the fries or the Aussie Chicken Crispers.
What oil does Outback Steakhouse use?
For steaks: butter, confirmed directly by Bloomin' Brands VP of R&D Efrem Cutler. For the Bloomin' Onion: beef tallow, reported consistently across multiple food-industry outlets (Tasting Table, Chowhound) as standard practice, though we couldn't find a named Outback spokesperson confirming it directly, or a source specifying when this started. We don't have a sourced answer for the fries or Aussie Chicken Crispers specifically.
Is the Bloomin' Onion fried in seed oil?
No, per multiple reputable food-industry outlets, Outback fries its Bloomin' Onion (and Bloomin' Fried Shrimp) in beef tallow. We couldn't find a named Outback spokesperson confirming this on the record, or a source specifying when the practice started, so treat it as well-reported rather than company-confirmed. The dipping sauce that comes with it is a separate matter, a creamy sauce that may contain soybean or canola oil.
What about Outback's sauces and dressings?
Outback's signature sauces (ranch, thousand island, some dressings) may contain soybean or canola oil. The cooking fats are clean; the condiments are where seed oils can sneak in. Their allergen guide lists specific sauce ingredients, check it before ordering sauces you're unsure about.
Are Outback's steaks cooked in seed oil?
No. Outback steaks are seasoned and cooked on a wood-fired grill with no added oil during cooking. They may be finished with butter. The grill doesn't use seed oils.
Is Outback Steakhouse a good option for seed-oil-free dining?
Steaks are a strong choice: cooked with butter, confirmed directly by Bloomin' Brands' VP of R&D. The Bloomin' Onion is well-reported (though not company-confirmed) as fried in beef tallow. Beyond that, be cautious: we couldn't find a sourced claim for the fries or Aussie Chicken Crispers, and the cream-based sauces and dressings likely contain soybean or canola oil.
Sources
- Outback Steakhouse, Allergens · Official allergen and ingredient documentation
- Tasting Table -- Efrem Cutler (VP of R&D, Bloomin' Brands) on Outback's steak fat · Source for the direct "we cook our steaks with butter" quote
- Tasting Table -- Outback's Bloomin' Onion and beef tallow · Chowhound -- Reported (not company-confirmed) sources for the Bloomin' Onion tallow claim
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