Steak 'n Shake fries in 100% beef tallow. They built a page on their own website to tell you about it. For a major fast-food chain, that level of transparency is nearly unheard of. With 430+ locations, it's one of the most accessible seed-oil-free fast-food options in the US.
What oil Steak 'n Shake uses
Steak 'n Shake uses beef tallow in their fryers. Their own transparency page names fries, tater tots, onion rings, and chicken tenders specifically as cooked in 100% beef tallow at the restaurant. They document this on a dedicated transparency page at steaknshake.com/seed-oils A rare move for a fast-food chain.
The burger patties are fresh-ground beef pressed on the flat-top with no added oil. The cooking surface is seasoned with the beef's own fat.
Seed oil-free: confirmed items
✓ = cooked in beef tallow or contains no seed oil per their published documentation.
- ✓Classic shoestring fries Fried in beef tallow at the restaurant.
- ✓Tater tots Fried in beef tallow, per their transparency page.
- ✓Onion rings Fried in beef tallow.
- ✓Chicken tenders Fried in beef tallow, per their transparency page.
- ✓Steakburger patties Fresh-ground beef, cooked on the flat-top with no added oil.
- ✓Milkshakes (base) Dairy-based, milk and ice cream, no seed oil in the shake itself.
- ✓Chili Slow-cooked beef chili with no seed oil listed in the primary ingredients.
The one nuance: par-cooked fries
Steak 'n Shake is transparent about this on their own page: like most restaurant chains, their fries arrive at the restaurant pre-cut and par-cooked at the manufacturer's facility. That pre-cook step may use seed oils before the fries ever reach the restaurant fryer.
The final frying, the step that makes them hot and crispy on your tray, uses beef tallow. Steak 'n Shake acknowledges the upstream manufacturing step rather than hiding it, which is a higher standard than most chains.
For most people avoiding seed oils, tallow-fried fries with minor upstream exposure are a vastly better option than fries fried entirely in canola or soybean oil. For those with strict medical requirements, the par-cook nuance is worth knowing.
Items to check
- ⚠Buns Commercial bread buns typically contain soybean oil. The burger protein and fries are the cleanest choices.
- ⚠Specialty sauces Dipping sauces and condiments may contain soybean or canola oil. Check individually.
- ⚠Seasonal items Limited-time menu additions may use different ingredients than the standard menu.
Why this matters
Steak 'n Shake made a deliberate business decision to switch to beef tallow and announce it publicly. They built a page about it. That's not an accident, it's positioning for the growing segment of consumers who are actively avoiding seed oils.
For context: McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Five Guys, and most other fast-food burger chains all fry in soybean or canola oil. Steak 'n Shake frying in tallow puts them in a category with In-N-Out (sunflower) and a small number of regional chains as the outliers who've moved away from industrial seed oil frying.
Our Pick
EPIC Grass-Fed Beef Tallow
The same type of fat Steak 'n Shake uses in their fryers. For home cooking: roasting vegetables, frying potatoes, or searing steaks. Rendered from pasture-raised beef.
Frequently asked questions
Does Steak 'n Shake use seed oils?
No. Steak 'n Shake fries in 100% beef tallow and has a dedicated transparency page at steaknshake.com/seed-oils documenting this. They are one of the few major fast-food chains in the US to have made a public, documented commitment to seed-oil-free frying.
What oil does Steak 'n Shake use to fry?
Beef tallow. Steak 'n Shake switched their fryers to 100% beef tallow as part of their brand relaunch. This applies to their fries, onion rings, and other fried items. They document this on their website at steaknshake.com/seed-oils.
Are Steak 'n Shake fries seed oil free?
Per their own transparency page, yes, and the claim goes further than just the final fry. Steak 'n Shake states they worked with their fry and tot manufacturer, at their own expense, to eliminate the vegetable oil formerly used in the upstream par-cook step before freezing, in addition to frying in 100% beef tallow at the restaurant. Their own words: the fries and tots are now "completely free of seed oils." This is a self-reported claim we haven't found independent third-party verification for, but it's a specific, named commitment, not a vague one.
What about Steak 'n Shake burgers?
The burger patties are fresh-ground beef with no added oil, cooked on a flat-top seasoned with the beef's own fat. Per their transparency page, they also switched burgers and sandwiches to 100% Wisconsin butter, replacing a buttery blend that previously contained seed oils. Buns are the one piece they haven't solved yet, their own page says eliminating seed oils from the buns "will take more time." If avoiding seed oils strictly, the patty and the fries are the cleanest choices; skip or swap the bun.
Are Steak 'n Shake milkshakes seed oil free?
The base milkshakes use dairy (milk, ice cream) with no seed oil in the shake itself. Mix-ins and toppings may vary, check the specific item. The core shake is dairy-based.
Where can I verify Steak 'n Shake's oil sourcing?
Steak 'n Shake has published a dedicated page at steaknshake.com/seed-oils. This is unusual for a fast-food chain, most chains make diners call or dig through allergen PDFs. Steak 'n Shake made it a marketing point, which makes verification straightforward.
Sources
- Steak 'n Shake, Seed Oils Transparency Page · Published documentation of their beef tallow frying commitment
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