In-N-Out Burger has a reputation for simplicity and quality. With a short menu and fresh ingredients, many health-conscious diners assume it is a safer choice. But if you are trying to avoid seed oils, In-N-Out might not be as clean as you think. Here is what Seed Oil Scout found when we looked into their ingredients.

Does In-N-Out Burger Use Seed Oils?

Yes, In-N-Out uses seed oils in several key menu items. Their french fries are cooked in sunflower oil, the buns contain partially hydrogenated oil, and the signature spread (their version of special sauce) is made with soybean oil. Seed Oil Scout gives In-N-Out a 1.5 out of 5 rating. The burger patties themselves appear to be cooked on a flat grill, but the surrounding ingredients are loaded with seed oils.

What Oils Does In-N-Out Cook With?

Here is a detailed breakdown of where seed oils show up at In-N-Out:

French fries: Cooked in sunflower oil. This is one of the more omega-6 heavy seed oils and is used for all fried items.

Buns: Contain partially hydrogenated oil, which is a form of trans fat derived from seed oils. This is one of the more concerning ingredients on the menu from a health perspective.

Spread (special sauce): Made with soybean oil as a base. This comes standard on most burgers, so you need to specifically ask for it to be removed.

Burger patties: The beef patties are fresh and cooked on a flat grill. While In-N-Out does not publicly list the grill oil, the patties themselves do not appear to contain added seed oils.

Cheese: The American cheese slices are a standard processed cheese product. Check for soybean oil in the ingredient list if you are being strict.

What Can You Order at In-N-Out to Avoid Seed Oils?

To eat seed oil-free at In-N-Out, your options are limited but doable. The safest choice is a lettuce-wrapped patty (protein style) with no spread. Here is how to order:

1. Order "Protein Style" to replace the bun with lettuce.
2. Ask for no spread. Mustard and ketchup are generally seed oil-free alternatives.
3. Skip the fries entirely (sunflower oil).
4. Onions, tomato, and lettuce are all whole-food toppings that are safe.
5. A plain patty with salt and pepper is the absolute cleanest option.

If you want to confirm ingredients, In-N-Out has a customer service line you can call at (800) 786-1000 between 8am and 1am.

For more tips on dining out, read our guide on how to avoid seed oils at restaurants.

How Does In-N-Out Compare to Other Fast Food Chains?

In-N-Out sits in a similar tier to Five Guys (rated 1/5), which uses peanut oil for fries and soybean oil in the buns. Both chains cook their patties without seed oils on a flat grill, which is a positive. However, neither chain offers a fully seed oil-free meal without modifications.

Compared to chains that cook everything in canola or soybean oil blends, In-N-Out is slightly better since the core protein is clean. But the sunflower oil fries and partially hydrogenated buns are significant drawbacks. If you are looking for chains that use traditional fats like beef tallow, the options in mainstream fast food remain very limited.

The Bottom Line

In-N-Out earns a 1.5 out of 5 on the Seed Oil Scout scale. The fresh beef patties are a plus, but sunflower oil fries, partially hydrogenated buns, and soybean oil in the spread mean you will need to customize heavily. Go protein style, skip the spread, and forget the fries. Download Seed Oil Scout to check any restaurant before your next meal.