Burger King is one of the most loved fast food chains in North America and beyond. While the restaurant offers grilled and other food options, the vast majority of its foods are deep fried. This includes the fries, onion rings, nuggets and even desserts such as the chain’s fried apple pie.
If you’re health or diet conscious, but still go for a fast food treat every once in a while, you might be wondering about what type of oil Burger King uses and whether it’s healthy?
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the oil that is used at Burger King to fry its food and whether it’s something you should avoid.
What Kind of Oil Does Burger King Use For Fries & Nuggets?
The oil Burger King uses for their fried menu items is corn, canola, soy and/or cottonseed oils. These oils are not considered to be the healthiest option, but it does allow for a consistent taste and texture in their fried foods. In years prior, the company also used palm oil, but dropped it due to concerns and controversy surrounding its supplier and potential damage to the environment.
While the Burger King frying oils are not considered particularly healthy, corn oil has some redeeming qualities such as vitamin E and phytosterols. Canola oil as well is considered to be healthy in some regard, as it is low in saturated fat and has a high monounsaturated fat content.
Does Burger King Use Peanut Oil?
No, Burger King does not use peanut oil for any of their fried products. If you have a peanut allergy, you can still enjoy most of Burger King’s menu items, without worrying if the oil has come into contact with peanuts at any point.
In a Quora thread “Are Burger King fries fried in peanut oil?” User, Christopher Stanton explained why this specific oil would not be used in fast food restaurants.
The main reason is that it’s more expensive than the other oils. The second reason is that it’s not as good for frying things (it has a lower smoke point). The third reason is that some people are allergic to peanuts, so there would be the potential for cross-contamination if it were used.
Wrapping it up
The next time you find yourself at Burger King, you can rest assured that the oil used for frying their fries chicken nuggets, onion rings, and apple pies is is corn, canola, soy and/or cottonseed oils.
While these oils are not the healthiest option, it is a consistent way to fry food so that each item has the same taste and texture.
If you have a peanut allergy, you can still eat most of the items on the menu without worry, as Burger King does not use peanut oil in any of their frying.
