What Does Buffalo Wild Wings Fry Their Wings In?

The Short Answer

Buffalo Wild Wings fries their traditional wings in beef shortening (beef tallow) that contains dimethylpolysiloxane as an anti-foaming agent. Their boneless wings are breaded and fried in the same beef shortening. This means their fried items are cooked in animal fat rather than seed oils, though the anti-foaming agent may concern some health-conscious diners.

Buffalo Wild Wings' Cooking Process Explained

Buffalo Wild Wings has built their reputation on perfectly crispy wings, and their cooking process is surprisingly straightforward. Traditional wings arrive at each location fresh (never frozen) and are deep fried in large commercial fryers at approximately 375°F for about 10-12 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

The wings go directly from refrigeration into the fryer without any breading or coating. Once fully cooked and golden brown, they're tossed in one of their signature sauces or dry rubs. Boneless wings follow a different process: chicken breast pieces are breaded with a seasoned flour mixture before hitting the same fryers for about 6-8 minutes.

What makes their process unique is the use of beef shortening rather than the vegetable oils used by most chain restaurants. This choice impacts both flavor and nutritional profile of their wings.

What Oil Does Buffalo Wild Wings Use?

According to Buffalo Wild Wings' allergen and ingredient information, they use beef shortening for all their fried menu items. This beef shortening is rendered beef fat (tallow) that's been processed for commercial deep frying applications. The specific product contains dimethylpolysiloxane, a silicone-based compound added to prevent foaming during the frying process.

Beef tallow was the gold standard for commercial frying until the 1980s when most chains switched to vegetable oils due to cost and perceived health benefits. Buffalo Wild Wings is one of the few major chains that still uses animal fat for frying, which creates their distinctive flavor and extra-crispy texture.

The dimethylpolysiloxane additive, while FDA-approved for food use, is a synthetic compound that some prefer to avoid. It's the same anti-foaming agent used in many commercial frying operations and is present in very small amounts (typically less than 10 parts per million).

Is It Seed Oil?

No, beef shortening is not a seed oil. It's an animal-based fat derived from cattle, making it fundamentally different from industrial seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or sunflower oil. From a Seed Oil Scout perspective, Buffalo Wild Wings scores better than most chain restaurants because they avoid the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in seed oils.

SOS Rating: MODERATE

Guidance Label: Proceed with Caution

While beef tallow is ancestrally appropriate and avoids the oxidative concerns of seed oils, the presence of dimethylpolysiloxane moves this from a "clean" rating. Traditional beef tallow used for centuries didn't require anti-foaming agents. Additionally, some menu items like salad dressings, certain sauces, and sides may still contain seed oils as ingredients.

The fatty acid profile of beef tallow consists primarily of saturated and monounsaturated fats, with minimal polyunsaturated fats. This makes it more stable at high temperatures compared to seed oils, reducing the formation of harmful oxidation products during frying.

What to Order Instead

If you're strictly avoiding all processed additives, consider these options at Buffalo Wild Wings:

• Grilled chicken tenders: Cooked on a flat-top grill without the fryers
• Naked tenders: Grilled chicken without breading or frying
• Street tacos: Available with grilled chicken or pulled pork
• Burgers without buns: Can be ordered lettuce-wrapped
• Fresh salads: Ask for olive oil and vinegar instead of house dressings

When ordering sauces, stick to dry rubs like Desert Heat, Salt & Vinegar, or Lemon Pepper. Most wet sauces are relatively clean, but some may contain soybean oil as an ingredient. Ask your server for ingredient information if you're concerned about specific sauces.

For sides, the coleslaw and carrot/celery sticks are your safest bets. French fries and onion rings are fried in the same beef shortening as the wings.

Healthier Alternatives at Other Chains

If you're looking for wings without any additives or want to explore other options, consider these alternatives:

Wingstop: Currently uses soybean oil (seed oil) for frying, making it less favorable than Buffalo Wild Wings from a seed oil perspective.

Local restaurants: Many independent wing shops and barbecue restaurants use pure beef tallow, duck fat, or even cook wings on the grill. These spots often provide cleaner options without anti-foaming agents.

Chick-fil-A: Uses refined peanut oil, which while not a seed oil, is still a processed vegetable oil. Their grilled options avoid the fryer entirely.

Five Guys: Uses refined peanut oil for frying. While not ideal, peanut oil has a better fatty acid profile than most seed oils.

For the cleanest option, seek out restaurants that grill their wings or use pure animal fats without additives. Many upscale restaurants and farm-to-table establishments offer wings cooked in duck fat or grass-fed tallow.

The Bottom Line

Buffalo Wild Wings stands out in the fast-casual dining landscape for using beef shortening instead of seed oils. While this is a significant positive for those avoiding industrial seed oils, the presence of dimethylpolysiloxane as an anti-foaming agent prevents their wings from being considered truly "clean" eating.

For most people avoiding seed oils, Buffalo Wild Wings represents a reasonable compromise when eating out with friends or watching the game. Their traditional wings are certainly a better choice than options fried in soybean or canola oil at other chains. However, if you're strictly avoiding all artificial additives, stick to their grilled options or seek out restaurants using pure, unprocessed cooking fats.

The key is making informed decisions based on your personal health goals and tolerance levels. While perfection might mean cooking wings at home in pure tallow or duck fat, Buffalo Wild Wings offers a relatively seed oil-free option in the world of chain restaurants.

Ready to make more informed dining decisions? Download Seed Oil Scout to instantly check cooking oils and ingredients at thousands of restaurants. Our app helps you navigate menus confidently, whether you're avoiding seed oils, additives, or both. Take control of your health one meal at a time.