In-N-Out Burger is famous for its simple menu and amazing taste. People love their Double-Doubles and famous Animal Style fries. But why does their food taste so much better than other fast food? The secret is all about the In-N-Out ingredients.
Many fast-food places use frozen meat and microwaves. Not In-N-Out. They promise to serve only fresh food that is never frozen. But exactly what goes into their meals? In this post, we look closely at the exact ingredients in In N Out burgers, their French fries, and that famous secret spread.
Whether you have food allergies, want to watch what you eat, or just love knowing what is in your food, we have you covered. Read on to find out exactly what makes your favorite burger so good!
In N Out Ingredients PDF
In-N-Out Burger Patty Ingredients
What is in an In-N-Out burger patty?
In-N-Out’s burger patties are made from 100% beef. The company states that its patties are made without additives, fillers, or preservatives.
In plain terms, the patty itself is not a soy-based, breaded, or filler-heavy fast-food patty. It is beef.
In-N-Out burger patty ingredients
| Ingredient | Notes |
| Beef | In-N-Out describes its patties as 100% beef |
| Salt | Patties are typically salted during cooking |
In-N-Out is also known for using fresh, never-frozen beef patties. That said, the company does not market the beef as grass-fed, organic, or certified antibiotic-free, so those claims should not be assumed.
In-N-Out Meat Quality: Is It Good?
In-N-Out’s meat quality is generally considered one of the chain’s strengths because the patties are simple: 100% beef with no fillers or preservatives.
What In-N-Out does claim:
- 100% beef patties
- No additives
- No fillers
- No preservatives
- Fresh, never-frozen patties
What In-N-Out does not broadly claim:
- Organic beef
- Grass-fed beef
- Regenerative beef
- Certified humane beef
- Antibiotic-free beef across the full supply chain
So if your main concern is avoiding filler-heavy burger patties, In-N-Out performs well. If your concern is sourcing standards like organic, grass-fed, or animal welfare certifications, In-N-Out does not provide that level of detail publicly in the same way some specialty burger chains do.
In-N-Out Bun Ingredients
What is in the In-N-Out bun?
In-N-Out uses a classic white hamburger bun. It is a wheat-based bun, so it is not gluten-free.
The bun is typically made with ingredients found in standard commercial hamburger buns, including enriched wheat flour, water, yeast, sugar or sweetener, oil, salt, and dough conditioners or preservatives.
In-N-Out bun ingredient profile
| Ingredient type | What it means |
| Enriched wheat flour | The main ingredient; contains gluten |
| Water | Used for dough hydration |
| Yeast | Helps the bun rise |
| Sugar/sweetener | Adds flavor and supports browning |
| Oil | Often used for softness and texture |
| Salt | Flavor and dough structure |
| Dough conditioners/preservatives | Help texture, shelf life, and consistency |
Does the In-N-Out bun contain gluten?
Yes. The regular In-N-Out bun contains wheat and gluten.
If you avoid gluten, order your burger Protein Style, which replaces the bun with hand-leafed lettuce. However, if you have celiac disease or a severe wheat allergy, you should still ask about cross-contact procedures at your specific location or check In n Out allergen menu.
In-N-Out Cheese Ingredients
What cheese does In-N-Out use?
In-N-Out uses American cheese. This is processed American cheese, not a slice of aged cheddar. American cheese is commonly made from dairy ingredients combined with emulsifying salts so it melts smoothly on burgers.
In-N-Out American cheese ingredients List
| Ingredient type | Purpose |
| Milk/cheese ingredients | Main dairy base |
| Cream or milkfat ingredients | Adds richness |
| Sodium citrate or other emulsifying salts | Helps the cheese melt smoothly |
| Salt | Flavor |
| Cheese cultures and enzymes | Used in cheesemaking |
| Preservatives | Help maintain quality |
| Color | Gives American cheese its yellow/orange appearance |
In-N-Out Spread Ingredients
What is In-N-Out spread made of?
In-N-Out’s famous spread is similar to a Thousand Island-style burger sauce. It is creamy, tangy, slightly sweet, and pickle-forward.
The exact recipe is proprietary, but the ingredient profile is generally a combination of:
- Mayonnaise-style base
- Ketchup-style tomato base
- Sweet pickle relish
- Vinegar
- Sugar or sweetener
- Salt
- Spices/seasonings
In-N-Out spread ingredient profile
| Component | Common ingredients found in this type of sauce |
| Mayonnaise-style base | Soybean oil, egg yolk, vinegar, salt |
| Ketchup-style base | Tomato concentrate, vinegar, sweetener, salt, spices |
| Sweet relish | Pickles/cucumbers, vinegar, sugar or corn syrup, salt, spices |
| Seasoning | Salt, onion/garlic/spices depending on formula |
In-N-Out Fries Ingredients
| Ingredient | Notes |
| Potatoes | Fresh-cut in the restaurant |
| Sunflower oil | Used for frying |
| Salt | Added after frying unless requested without salt |
In-N-Out cuts its fries from whole potatoes in the restaurant. They are cooked in 100% sunflower oil. Knowing exactly how they are made helps if you are checking your In n out fries calories.
What oil does In-N-Out use for fries?
In-N-Out cooks its fries in 100% sunflower oil.
Sunflower oil is a seed oil. So if you are avoiding seed oils, In-N-Out fries would not fit that preference.
Does In-N-Out use seed oils?
Yes. In-N-Out uses seed oils in some menu items. The clearest example is the fries, which are cooked in 100% sunflower oil.
Seed oils may also appear in other components, such as the spread or bun, depending on the current ingredient formula. For example, mayonnaise-style sauces often use soybean oil.
In-N-Out seed oil summary
| Item | Seed oil? | Notes |
| Fries | Yes | Cooked in sunflower oil |
| Burger patty | No added frying oil | Beef patty cooked on flat-top grill |
| Spread | Likely yes | Mayo-style base commonly contains soybean oil |
| Bun | Possible | Commercial buns often contain vegetable or soybean oil |
| Cheese | Possible trace/ingredient depending on formula | Some American cheese formulas use soy lecithin |
| Shakes | Not a major seed-oil item | Primarily dairy and sugar-based |
In-N-Out Shakes Ingredients
What are In-N-Out shakes made of?
In-N-Out shakes are made with real ice cream. The shake base contains milk ingredients and sugar, and the flavored shakes include vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry flavoring.
In-N-Out shake ingredient profile
| Shake | Main ingredients |
| Vanilla shake | Ice cream base, vanilla flavor |
| Chocolate shake | Ice cream base, chocolate syrup/flavor |
| Strawberry shake | Ice cream base, strawberry syrup/flavor |
The shake base typically includes:
- Milk
- Cream
- Sugar
- Nonfat milk or milk solids
- Stabilizers/emulsifiers for texture
- Flavoring
Chocolate and strawberry shakes include additional flavored syrups, which may contain added sugars, color, flavoring, and preservatives depending on the formula.
In-N-Out Vegetable Toppings
In-N-Out’s fresh toppings are straightforward.
Lettuce
In-N-Out uses hand-leafed lettuce on burgers and Protein Style orders.
Ingredients: lettuce
Tomato
Tomato slices are used on standard burgers unless removed.
Ingredients: tomato
Onion
You can order onion several ways:
| Onion style | What it means |
| Raw onion | Fresh onion slice |
| Grilled onion | Chopped onion cooked on the grill |
| Whole grilled onion | Whole onion slice grilled on the flat-top |
| No onion | Removed from the burger |
Ingredients: onion
Pickles
Pickles are not automatically included on every standard burger, but you can request them.
Pickle ingredient profiles usually include:
- Cucumbers
- Vinegar
- Salt
- Sweetener
- Spices
- Preservatives or firming agents depending on formula
In-N-Out Ingredient Breakdown by Popular Order
Hamburger ingredients
A standard In-N-Out Hamburger includes:
| Component | Ingredients |
| Bun | Wheat-based hamburger bun |
| Patty | 100% beef, salt |
| Spread | Mayo/ketchup/relish-style sauce |
| Lettuce | Lettuce |
| Tomato | Tomato |
| Onion | Optional, depending on order |
Cheeseburger ingredients
A Cheeseburger includes everything in the Hamburger plus American cheese.
| Component | Ingredients |
| Bun | Wheat-based hamburger bun |
| Patty | 100% beef, salt |
| Cheese | American cheese |
| Spread | Creamy relish-style burger spread |
| Lettuce | Lettuce |
| Tomato | Tomato |
| Onion | Optional |
Double-Double ingredients
A Double-Double includes:
| Component | Amount |
| Beef patties | 2 |
| American cheese slices | 2 |
| Bun | 1 |
| Spread | Included |
| Lettuce | Included |
| Tomato | Included |
| Onion | Optional |
A Double-Double is higher in calories, saturated fat, sodium, and protein because it doubles the beef and cheese.
Protein Style burger ingredients
Protein Style replaces the bun with lettuce.
| Component | Ingredients |
| Lettuce wrap | Lettuce |
| Patty | 100% beef, salt |
| Cheese | If ordered as Cheeseburger or Double-Double |
| Spread | Included unless removed |
| Tomato | Included |
| Onion | Optional |
Protein Style is the easiest way to reduce refined flour and gluten exposure from the bun, though it does not make the meal automatically low-sodium or dairy-free.
Animal Style burger ingredients
Animal Style typically includes:
- Mustard-cooked beef patty
- Extra spread
- Pickles
- Grilled onions
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- American cheese if ordered as a cheeseburger or Double-Double
Animal Style adds more sauce and toppings, so it can increase sodium, sugar, and calories compared with a simpler order.
Does In-N-Out Use MSG?
In-N-Out does not publicly emphasize MSG as an added ingredient in its core menu, and monosodium glutamate is not generally associated with the simple beef patty or fries.
However, flavorings in processed components such as sauces, pickles, cheese, or shake syrups can vary by supplier. Also, foods like beef, tomato, and cheese naturally contain glutamates, which are not the same thing as added MSG.
If you’re also curious about calories and macros, check out our complete guide to In N Out Nutrition Facts for a full breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are In-N-Out burger patties made of?
In-N-Out burger patties are made from 100% beef. They do not contain fillers, additives, or preservatives according to the company.
What oil does In-N-Out use for fries?
In-N-Out fries are cooked in 100% sunflower oil.
Does In-N-Out use seed oils?
Yes. The fries are cooked in sunflower oil, which is a seed oil. Other ingredients may also contain seed oils depending on the current formula.
What does In-N-Out cook their fries in?
In-N-Out cooks its fries in sunflower oil. The fries are made from fresh-cut potatoes and lightly salted.
Are In-N-Out fries just potatoes?
The basic ingredients are fresh potatoes, sunflower oil, and salt. However, preparation methods may vary by location.
What cheese does In-N-Out use?
In-N-Out uses American cheese on its burgers.
Is In-N-Out cheese dairy-free?
No. In-N-Out American cheese contains milk, so it is not dairy-free.
What is In-N-Out spread made of?
In-N-Out spread is a creamy burger sauce similar to Thousand Island dressing. It contains a mayo-style base, relish, tomato-based ingredients, vinegar, sweetener, salt, and seasonings.
Does In-N-Out spread have egg?
Yes. In-N-Out spread contains egg.
Does In-N-Out use MSG?
In-N-Out does not generally list MSG as a highlighted added ingredient. People with sensitivities should check current ingredient information before ordering.
Are In-N-Out buns gluten-free?
No. The regular In-N-Out bun contains wheat and gluten.
Is Protein Style gluten-free?
Protein Style replaces the bun with lettuce, which removes wheat ingredients. However, people with celiac disease should consider possible cross-contact.
Are In-N-Out fries gluten-free?
In-N-Out fries are made from potatoes, sunflower oil, and salt. Anyone with a serious allergy should confirm fryer practices.
Are In-N-Out fries vegan?
The fries are generally considered vegan based on their listed ingredients. Cross-contact practices should be confirmed if needed.
Are In-N-Out shakes made with real ice cream?
Yes. In-N-Out shakes are made with real ice cream and contain milk.
Does In-N-Out have preservatives?
Some ingredients like buns, cheese, pickles, sauces, or shake components may contain preservatives or stabilizers. The beef patties are described as having no additives, fillers, or preservatives.