What Oil Does McDonald’s Use? (All You Need To Know)

Just like at most fast-food restaurants, oil is an essential ingredient at McDonald’s for many reasons. That said, McDonald’s crew members use oil for cooking french fries, chicken nuggets, and many other items.

Knowing the type of oil might be very important for anyone with food allergies, health issues, or other concerns. So, here’s all you need to know about the oil at McDonald’s!

What Oil Does McDonald’s Use?

McDonald’s uses canola-blend oil for cooking many menu items. This oil is a mix of canola, corn, and soybean oil. Also, McDonald’s fries contain beef flavor, but they’re cooked in a vegetable oil blend. At McDonald’s, the chicken nuggets are cooked in a vegetable oil blend.

You may have more questions about McDonald’s oil and which foods are cooked in which oils, so keep reading for that information!

What Type Of Oil Are McDonald’s French Fries Cooked In?

McDonald’s uses a multi-ingredient canola oil blend to cook its iconic french fries. However, it’s worth noting that french fries at US locations are not vegan as they contain beef flavoring.

Moreover, the McDonald’s website for the United States stores lists the following ingredients in its french fry oil are as follows:

  • Canola oil
  • Corn oil
  • Soybean oil
  • Hydrogenated soybean oil
  • Natural beef flavor

Does McDonald’s Ever Use Peanut Oil?

For those with peanut allergies, the answer to this question is of utmost importance. Thankfully, McDonald’s does not cook any of its food in peanut oil.

However, McDonald’s uses peanuts or other nuts as an ingredient in some of its desserts and other items.

So, be aware of this when deciding what to order at a McDonald’s if you have a food allergy.

What Cooking Oil Does McDonald’s Use For Its Chicken McNuggets?

McDonald’s uses a canola oil blend to fry its chicken nuggets. However, it does not list beef flavoring as an ingredient, so it’s safe to use a different oil blend for its chicken nuggets.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that McDonald’s fries its chicken nuggets in a separate cooking vat than other menu items.

That said, this step is to prevent flavors from mixing and probably helps keep things organized.

What Oil Does Mcdonald’s Use For Burgers?

Surprisingly, McDonald’s does not use oil on its burgers. That said, oil is not listed at all in McDonald’s burger ingredients.

Instead, it appears that the burger patties are added directly to a grill and seasoned with salt and pepper.

If McDonald’s greases its cooking grills, chances are good it uses a canola oil blend similar to the one used for the other fried foods.

Is McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish Fried in the Same Oil as Chicken?

Is McDonald's Filet-O-Fish Fried In The Same Oil As Chicken?

No, McDonald’s uses a separate cooking vat for its fillet-o-fish from the one used for chicken. However, in some instances, the flavors may mix, so be aware of the possibility.

Overall, the fish is kept separate from the chicken and french fries. So, rest assured if you order a fillet-o-fish, it has been fried in its own oil and not in the same oil as chicken or fries.

Does McDonald’s Use Soybean Oil?

For some people, it may be helpful to know if McDonald’s uses soybean oil to cook food.

That said, the answer to this question is yes, McDonald’s does use soybean oil as one of its main cooking oils.

Additionally, the blend of oils that McDonald’s uses contains two different types of soybean oil.

Therefore, this is good to know if you’re trying to avoid soy products or just curious about the kind of oil used at McDonald’s.

How Does McDonald’s Clean Its Oil?

McDonald’s uses a system that allows stores to reuse the oil after it goes through a filtering process. With that, McDonald’s tries to filter oils in a certain order to prevent them from mixing.

For instance, the oil used for frying McDonald’s pies is in a separate vat from the vats used for frying chicken nuggets and so forth.

Furthermore, the filtration system helps keep the oil clean for each vat.

Does McDonald’s Reuse Its Cooking Oil?

McDonald’s recycles its oil in a creative way that many people probably don’t know.

For example, recycled oil fuels a relatively large percentage of McDonald’s delivery trucks in certain countries.

In addition, much of the used oil is given or sold to grease disposal companies that use it in environmentally friendly ways.

Overall, McDonald’s seems to be making an effort to recycle its oil responsibly.

When Did McDonald’s Stop Using Lard?

Some people might recall that at one time, McDonald’s cooked its french fries in beef fat. The owner of McDonald’s, Ray Kroc, believed it enhanced the flavor, and he may have been correct.

However, with growing concerns about using animal fat and its effects on health, McDonald’s switched to vegetable-based oils in the early 1990s.

However, McDonald’s still adds beef flavoring to the french fries.

To learn more, you can also read our related posts on whether or not McDonald’s fries are vegan, how to reheat McDonald’s apple pie, and what the biggest McDonald’s burger is on the menu.

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Marques Thomas

Marques Thomas graduated with a MBA in 2011. Since then, Marques has worked in the retail and consumer service industry as a manager, advisor, and marketer. Marques is also the head writer and founder of QuerySprout.com.

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