What's The Deal With Beef Tallow? Experts Weigh In On The Debate
Earlier this week, Steak 'N Shake made a bold declaration about their plan to ditch controversial seed oils and whip up their fries the old school way instead: with beef tallow. The announcement, which went viral, was quickly met with overflowing support. Fans praised the fast food joint for the move while simultaneously calling out others, like McDonald's, for ditching the all-natural cooking method in the first place.
So, what's the deal? What makes beef tallow so special—and seed oil such a turn off for many consumers? Let's start with the latter—after all, throngs of internet users have started a digital movement to nix the ingredient from restaurant menus and ingredients lists alike.
"Seed oils have become a contentious topic due to concerns about their health impact and their prevalence in ultra-processed foods," registered dietitian and nutritionist Lauren Manaker tells Delish. "This strong association with heavily processed products has caused many to question their nutritional value and potential long-term health effects. Furthermore, some correlation studies—not randomized controlled trials—have linked the rise in seed oil consumption to increasing rates of chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, and inflammation."
The Cleveland Clinic reports that any nutrients that may be found in seeds are often from stripped during the refining process. And while a few tablespoons in your brownie mix might not disrupt your health goals, many fast food and chain restaurants are dousing your French fries and chicken tenders in the oil.
However, it's worth noting that, while some studies have raised concerns about seed oils, the scientific consensus is not as clear-cut as some popular narratives suggest. The majority of current research indicates that seed oils are not inherently harmful and may even offer health benefits when consumed as part of a balanced diet.
Beef tallow, which is basically just rendered beef fat, is considered by some to be a healthier alternative for deep-frying—no matter where you fall in the seed oil debate. (Meanthile, TikTokers have even touted it as a skincare solution with moisturizing and complexion clearing benefits.)
"Unlike seed oils, which can oxidize at high temperatures and produce potentially harmful byproducts, beef tallow has a higher smoke point, making it suitable for frying and other cooking methods," she explains. "Supporters also highlight that tallow, being a traditional cooking fat, is minimally processed and free from chemical extractions or additives."
Manaker does add a caveat (because isn't there always a but when it comes to healthy alternatives?). "Concerns remain about its saturated fat content and potential impact on heart health, as high levels of [these fats] have historically been associated with negative heart health outcomes," she says. "While debates about the health implications of different cooking fats persist, incorporating tallow into a diet should be approached with consideration of individual health needs and modern nutritional research."
For example, Popeyes Cajun Fries—which are cooked with beef tallow—have three additional grams of saturated fat (5 in total) compared to McDonald's fries that contain 2 grams and are prepared with seed oil.
No matter where you fall on the, knowledge is power—which is why it's so important to stay in the know on who is cooking with what. While McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and other chains still use seed oil—in fact, McDonald’s made the switch from beef tallow to seed oil back in the '90s—Steak 'N Shake is not the only restaurant to embrace beef tallow, or at least other cooking alternatives to seed oil. Here are more restaurants that don't use seed oils to fry their fries:
Steak 'N Shake
"Our fries will now be cooked in an authentic way, 100% beef tallow, in order to achieve the highest quality and best taste," chief supply chain officer Chris Ward said in a statement announcing the cooking shift.
"The consumer wants the best and deserves the best. By adopting 100% beef tallow, Steak 'n Shake is delivering the best fries possible," chief global development officer Kristen Briede added.
Popeyes
Popeyes is among the fast food chains that uses natural beef tallow for its fries. In fact, the company confirms this directly on their site.
"Our kitchens and food handling procedures are designed to ensure your safety and health," Popeyes wrote in a statement online, before adding that "beef tallow is used for frying our products."
Buffalo Wild Wings
BWW fries up its crispy chicken wings and other menu items in "beef shortening," which is only slightly different than natural tallow, The Tasting Table reports. It might not be considered quite as healthy because thanks to other additives and fats that are sometimes included, but it is similar (and actually includes) beef tallow in it.
Smashburger
While fast casual chain Smashburger isn't entirely clean of seed oils, they use a combo of beef tallow and canola oil in their fryers. Also of note: their burgers are cooked on the grill with butter—and only butter.
Outback Steakhouse
It's been widely rumored online that Outback Steakhouse uses beef tallow for preparing its Aussie-inspired menu. However, according to Chef Efrem Cutler, the VP of Research and Development for Outback's parent company Bloomin' Brands, that theory is actually incorrect. "We cook our steaks with butter," he told The Tasting Table. Hey, at least it's not canola or sunflower oil?
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