After the Chick-Fil-A founder S.Truett Cathy invented the famous chicken sandwich, he did various tests to develop the best oil to make the item more enchanting
As such, most people have asked, what oil does Chick-Fil-A use? Is it safe for consumption? I looked into the matter, and here’s what I uncovered!
What Oil Does Chick-Fil-A Use In 2024?
Chick-Fil-A restaurants use peanut oil to make its breaded chicken and hourglass-shaped legumes loved by Americans as of 2024. Peanut oil is one of those ingredients vouched by Chick-Fil-A founder; Truett Cathy due to its light and nutty flavor. The company extracts the oil from the peanut. In collaboration with the FDA, Chick-Fil-A uses two types of oils.
To discover more on why Chick-Fil-A uses peanut oil, if Chick-Fil-A peanut oil is safe, and if Chick-Fil-A uses different oils, keep reading!
Why Does Chick-Fil-A Use Peanut Oil?
Peanut oil has a light, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor that generally gives Chick-Fil-A crunchy chicken a magical taste.
Again, Cathy, the founder, chose peanut as one of the primary ingredients in making chicken.
Additionally, the oil doesn’t leave much of its flavor to the foods cooked in it, meaning the chicken will always retain its original taste.
What Are The Benefits Of Chick-Fil-A Peanut Oil?
Here are some of the benefits of Chick-Fil-A peanut oil.
- The oil is free of gluten and carbohydrates.
- The peanuts used to make peanut oil are non-GMO crops.
- Peanut oil is allergy-free.
- It doesn’t pass much of its flavor to the foods cooked in it.
Can You Eat Chick-Fil-A If You Have A Peanut Allergy?
According to the company’s allergist, Chick-Fil-A is a safe place for those with peanut allergies to eat.
And so, you can eat Chick-Fil-A’s fries, including chicken, even if you are allergic to peanut oil.
Further, the company oil has been subjected to 100% refinement doing away with the proteins contained in the peanut.
So, with the proteins extracted from the peanut, the risk that comes with it has been eliminated.
The Chick-Fil-A website states, “Chick-fil-A restaurants purchase peanut oil from certified suppliers that guarantee their refining process will remove all proteins that cause allergic reactions.”
However, the company also cautions its customers via its website, “Not all peanut oil is treated equally, so consumers should exercise caution when buying food or ingredients with peanut oil.”
Therefore, it’s advisable to conduct personal due diligence by visiting a doctor and getting epinephrine.
What Oil Does Chick-Fil-Use For Its Nuggets?
Chick-Fil-A bite-sized pieces of boneless chicken breast, seasoned to perfection, freshly breaded, are cooked in 100% refined peanut oil.
Does Chick-Fil-A Use Corn Oil?
Chick-Fil-A doesn’t use corn oil in its products. That said, the company singled out peanut oil as the only oil used to make the delicious dishes except for waffle fries.
Over the years, Chick-Fil-A has been the largest buyer of peanut oil from the local US farmers, making it one of the most significant users of peanut oil in its chicken sandwiches.
Further, the company helps the farmers acquire the harvesting and processing skills needed to have peanut oil.
What Kind Of Oil Does Chick-Fil-A Use For Waffle Fries?
Chick-Fil-A uses canola oil to cook waffle-cut potatoes, giving them a crispy outer layer with the tenderized inner part.
After several tests, the company adopted canola oil because of the neutral flavor of the seed-based canola oil. Also, it allows the potato to have an aroma on the palate.
Moreover, according to the company’s senior culinary lead for the menu, Jodie Worrell, canola oil has a high smoking point; and fries up very well with a new flavor profile.
Is Chick-Fil-A Chicken Cooked In Peanut Oil?
Peanut oil forms part of every piece of pressure-cooked chicken served by Chick-Fil-A.
Ideally, peanut oil was recognized by Cathy, founder of Chick-Fil-A, as one of the significant components in making chicken fries after he experimented with various oils.
More importantly, peanut oil has been one of the secrets behind Chick-Fil-A’s original chicken sandwich, which is almost impossible to replicate.
Lastly, all Chick-Fil-A local restaurants in America use 100% refined peanut oil to pressure-cook all of its breaded chicken.
Did Chick-Fil-A Stop Using Peanut Oil?
As one of Chick-Fil-A’s recommended cooking oil, peanut oil remains part of the chicken sandwich recipe.
In 2008, Chick-Fil-A decided to remove all oils containing trans fats from its menu following the directives issued by FIDA.
According to the FDA, highly refined oils such as soybean and peanut oil are not considered allergenic and therefore are not labeled.
To know more, you can also read our posts on why does Chick-Fil-A tastes so good, where can you buy Chick-Fil-A sauce, and is Chick-Fil-A halal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Chick-Fil-A uses peanut oil to make its famous breast breaded chicken. Also, the company considered using soybean oil to make the famous waffle potato fries.
Moreover, Chick-Fil-A relies on the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to adopt any specific item as part of its recipe.
