Do Fast-Food Restaurants Use Peanut Oil? Some Do…
I’m always looking for new, healthier foods to eat, and I’ve been reading a lot about peanut oil lately. Peanut oil is said to be better for your health than other oils, so I wanted to find out if my favorite fast-food chains use it. So, do fast-food restaurants use peanut oil?
While Chick-fil-A and Five Guys use peanut oil in their restaurants, other favorites like Popeyes, Burger King, Sonic, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, KFC, Jack in the Box, Whataburger, Taco Bell, Shake Shack, Church’s Chicken, Chipotle, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Hungry Jack’s, In-N-Out don’t use it at all.
So if you’re looking for a healthier fast-food meal, you might want to try one of the places that use peanut oil. But be careful – even if a restaurant uses peanut oil, they may still use other oils that aren’t as healthy. Do your research before you order!
Does Popeyes Use Peanut Oil?
I wanted to know if Popeyes uses peanut oil, so I did some quick research. As it turns out, they appear not to use peanut oil in their recipes. However, no official information was given on their website about what type of oil they use.
However, they also have a disclaimer on their website stating that they can’t guarantee that their food is peanut-free. So it looks like you’ll have to call ahead and ask before you head over to any of their restaurants. [1]
Does Sonic Use Peanut Oil?
Just as it’s the case with Popeyes, Sonic also has a list of allergens and nutrition charts where everyone can inform on the ingredients and nutrition of each of their meal and drink provided. [2]
The whole list of allergens doesn’t show peanuts, so I can conclude that Sonic does not use peanut oil, and their food is peanut-free. The chart also states that this fast-food restaurant uses bun oil to prepare its products.
Does Burger King Use Peanut Oil?
I was curious about this as well and did a little research. After all, Burger King is one of the most popular fast-food corporations in the USA.
It seems that Burger King used to use peanut oil in some of their menu items, but they no longer do. According to their allergens chart, nothing at Burger Kings contains peanuts.
The reason being is that it’s not a health-safe cooking option for those with peanut allergies. This popular fast-food chain uses corn, canola, soy, and/or cottonseed oils.
Does McDonald’s Use Peanut Oil?
You might be wondering if McDonald’s uses peanut oil. The answer is no, although each franchise owner can decide which cooking oils to use.
McDonald’s states on its website that they use canola, corn, and soybean oil together with hydrogenated soybean oil when frying its products.
Peanut oil is not listed directly, but it could also be one of the oils in their frying blend. It all comes down to the franchise owner’s discretion, so if you have an allergy, it’s always best to ask at the store which kind of oil they are using.
Does Wendy’s Use Peanut Oil?
When it comes to Wendy’s, the answer is no. While they do use vegetable oil to fry their famous fries and nuggets, they don’t use any peanut oil at all. Instead, they use palm oil.
In fact, the company has gone to great lengths to make sure that its kitchens remain peanut-free.
But, while it’s evident that Wendy’s takes food allergies very seriously since it identifies the main nine allergens defined by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its menu, as well as the twelve main allergens on the Canadian menu, there is always a chance for cross-contact due to standard handling and preparation in its restaurants.
Does KFC Use Peanut Oil?
No, KFC doesn’t use peanut oil, although it’s one of the most widely used oils for cooking fried food in fast-food restaurants, along with soybean, cottonseed, and canola oil.
KFC actually avoids all use of peanuts and tree nuts in their kitchens since these allergens can spread to other foods very quickly. [3]
It is said that KFC used to use palm oil to fry chicken, french fries, and other menu items, but now they use canola oil and hydrogenated soybean oil.
Does Chick-fil-a Use Peanut Oil?
Chick-fil-A is known for its beloved fried chicken, and you might be wondering if they use peanut oil when they fry their food. The answer is yes, they do!
Chick-fil-A has been using peanut oil for many years since it was one of the first fast-food chains to switch to a healthier option. The change was made in response to customer demand after reports of the health risks associated with trans fat. [4]
Peanut oil has some benefits over other cooking oils because it has a high smoke point (450°F), which means it won’t break down and become toxic as quickly as other oils might. It also adds a subtle nutty flavor to dishes that can really liven up a meal.
Some allergists state that Chick-Fil-A is safe even for people with peanut allergies since the oil is 100% refined, meaning that the protein from the peanuts has been terminated.
Does In-N-Out Use Peanut Oil?
In-N-Out doesn’t use peanut oil in their frying; the website states that their food doesn’t contain peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, shellfish, or fish. The fast-food restaurant only uses good old sunflower oil, which is not the healthiest option. Still, at least there are no allergens whatsoever to worry about. [5]
They are very upfront and clear about what ingredients are contained in each item they serve, and if you avoid these menu items, you should be good to go.
Does Jack in the Box Use Peanut Oil?
The answer is no; they don’t. Their allergens chart shows all the items from the menu and the presence or absence of eggs, milk, fish, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, crustacean shellfish, and wheat. It appears that the presence of peanuts is only noticeable in their New York Style Cheesecake. [6]
However, the fast food chain also notes that the allergen information does not include salad dressing, crunchy toppings, dipping sauces, or individual sauce packets.
When it comes to oil, some sources show that Jack in the Box uses a canola oil blend for deep frying while they toast their sourdough bread and fry their eggs in butter-flavored vegetable oil.
Does Whataburger Use Peanut Oil?
Whataburger is a fast-food chain that started in Texas and has since spread across the country. It’s known for its burgers, fries, and shakes. But one thing that’s not so well-known is whether Whataburger uses peanut oil.
It appears that Whataburger does not use peanut oil. Instead, they use soybean oil, a more sustainable option that is free from nut allergens.
This makes Whataburger an excellent choice for anyone with a peanut allergy who wants to enjoy fast food without worrying about accidental contamination. However, it’s still important to double-check the ingredients before ordering just to be safe since their website only shows the nutritional chart while lacking the allergens one. [7]
Does Taco Bell Use Peanut Oil?
I was curious about this too, so I did some digging. According to their website, they have replaced unsustainable palm oil with sustainable, RSPO-certified palm oil and have been using it for some time. [8]
Their allergens chart, however, shows that no items on the menu contain peanuts, so you can eat there without worry. [9]
In addition, most of the Taco Bell chips, shells, and wraps are certified vegan.
Does Five Guys Use Peanut Oil?
While, unsurprisingly, most fast-food restaurants don’t use peanut oil, Five Guys is not one of them.
I know for a fact that Five Guys uses peanut oil because I’ve seen it listed on their ingredients. Their website also clearly states that they use 100% refined peanut oil that contains only enough preservatives, so if you are allergic to nuts, it’s best to avoid this place. [10]
Does Shake Shack Use Peanut Oil?
Shake Shack is one of the restaurants that does not use peanut oil. As a matter of fact, they have a strict no-peanuts policy in place to ensure the safety of their customers.
In addition, they boast of serving 100% all-natural beef hot dogs, without hormones and antibiotics ever, while their fries are cooked in soy oil.
Does Church’s Chicken Use Peanut Oil?
This Southern-style fried chicken restaurant also doesn’t use one of the most popular oils for this kind of cooking. Their website clearly claims that they don’t use peanut oil and are ‘Peanut Free Baby!’
However, their nutritional chart states that all the food on the menu that contains the major allergens according to the FDA have been indicated. [11]
Some of their restaurants also sell fish and shellfish products, meaning chicken and other fried products sold in those stores may be fried in the same oil used for frying fish and shellfish products. This is why the chain encourages people with food allergies to check their website regularly to obtain the most comprehensive and up-to-date information.
Does Chipotle Use Peanut Oil?
Chipotle does not use peanut oil in any of its restaurants. Instead, they fry some of their menu items in rice bran oil.
In fact, the chain has been quite vocal about its commitment to using only vegetable oils, and they make it clear that they never use any animal oil. So if you have a peanut allergy, then Chipotle is definitely the place for you!
Additionally, there are a few vegan options on the menu that don’t contain any animal products or foods containing peanuts.
Does Starbucks Use Peanut Oil?
While it might seem like a place that would want to cater to those with allergies, the answer is a resounding no! Starbucks actually uses vegetable oil in its fryers, more precisely, 100% sustainable palm oil.
This oil offers a neutral flavor resembling carrots or pumpkins, which is perfect for its famous pumpkin spice lattes.
Does Dunkin’ Donuts Use Peanut Oil?
Dunkin’ Donuts doesn’t say what type of oil it uses for frying its famous donuts. Still, it does state that the products may contain allergens, including milk, fish, eggs, sesame, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, wheat, and shellfish. Plus, it’s important to note that cross-contamination may still occur as some of their products are fried in the same oil as other items containing allergens.
According to their ingredients chart, they appear to be using two types of oil – palm oil and soybean oil. [12]
Does Hungry Jack’s Use Peanut Oil?
Well, the answer for Hungry Jack’s is a definite no. According to their nutrition and allergen guide, they usually use canola oil. They also use vegetable oil and sunflower oil; the last one is used in their popular Tendercrisp Chicken Salad. [13]
Plus, almost all of their menu items are peanuts-free.
