Regional chain · Midwest · Est. 1984
Culver's
Rice-flour coating, shared fryer with heavily breaded items.
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At a glance
Vegetarian
Suitable
No animal-derived ingredients.
Vegan
Suitable
Plant-based; shared fryer is the caveat.
Gluten-Free
Not suitable
Rice-flour coating is wheat-free, but Culver's explicitly notes fryer cross-contact with wheat.
Dairy-Free
Likely safe
No dairy in ingredients; shared fryer with cheese curds, onion rings (milk).
Kosher
Not certified
Not kosher-certified.
Halal
Not certified
Not halal-certified.
Culver's Crinkle-Cut Fries use the same clever rice-flour coating approach as Burger King, Chick-fil-A, and Jack in the Box — no wheat in the fry itself. But Culver's signature menu is heavily fried (Butterfly Jumbo Shrimp, Pork Tenderloin, Cheese Curds, Onion Rings, Chicken Tenders — all breaded in wheat flour), and they all share the fry oil. Culver's discloses this directly: "Cross-contact occurs with other allergens, including gluten, during cooking."
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Nutrition facts
Culver's's published nutrition data for the serving size most comparable to an industry "medium" order. Values shown are per-serving and calculated against FDA 2020 Daily Values.
For comparison across chains, see our rankings pages — lowest sodium, lowest saturated fat, lowest calorie, and more.
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Ingredients, line by line
Crinkle-Cut Fries — annotated
- Potatoes Fine — Pacific Northwest potatoes, per Culver's.
- Vegetable oil Soy — Canola, palm, soybean, and/or sunflower.
- Modified food starch (potato, corn, tapioca) Fine
- Rice flour Fine — The gluten-free coating approach.
- Dextrin, salt, leavening, dextrose, xanthan gum Fine
Crinkle Cut Fries: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Contains One or More of the Following: Canola, Palm, Soybean, Sunflower), Modified Food Starch (Potato, Corn, Tapioca), Rice Flour, Dextrin, Salt, Leavening (Disodium Dihydrogen Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Dextrose, Xanthan Gum. Cooked in Canola Oil. Cross-contact occurs with other allergens, including gluten, during cooking.
The rice-flour club, now at six members
Culver's joins Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Jack in the Box, Dairy Queen, and Wingstop in our growing list of chains that use rice flour (not wheat) in the fry coating. Rice flour contributes similar texture to wheat in a fry coating without the gluten. This is a supply-chain choice by the large frozen-potato manufacturers (Lamb Weston, McCain, Simplot), not necessarily a per-chain decision — most of these chains use similar suppliers.
A heavily-fried menu is the risk
Culver's is known for their breaded fried sides — Wisconsin Cheese Curds, Chicken Tenders, Butterfly Jumbo Shrimp, Fried Pork Tenderloin. All of these are wheat-breaded, and all cook in the same oil as the fries. Culver's own statement is plain: "Items cooked in the fryers may come into contact with egg, milk, wheat/gluten, soy, fish and shrimp." Rare candor, even if the news isn't good for celiac customers.
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Oil & fryer setup
Primary oil
Canola oil
Refined canola oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness; dimethylpolysiloxane added as anti-foaming agent.
Fryer setup
Shared
Shared fryer with Cheese Curds (wheat, milk), Onion Rings (wheat, milk), Chicken Tenders (wheat, milk, egg), Butterfly Jumbo Shrimp (wheat, shellfish), Pork Tenderloin (wheat, egg).
Cross-contamination
High for most allergens
Per Culver's directly: wheat/gluten, milk, egg, soy, fish, and shrimp cross-contact all possible. The fry oil interacts with most major allergens in the menu.
Regional note
Midwest chain
Founded in Sauk City, Wisconsin. Concentrated in the Midwest; expanding into the South and West. Famous for ButterBurgers and frozen custard.
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Top-9 allergen status
Per the FDA's nine major allergens, as disclosed by Culver's for Culver's Crinkle-Cut Fries.
✓ Milk*
✓ Wheat*
✓ Egg*
! Soy
✓ Peanut
✓ Tree Nut
! Fish*
! Shellfish*
✓ Sesame
Per Culver's own disclosure: items cooked in the fryers may come into contact with egg, milk, wheat/gluten, soy, fish, and shrimp.
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Frequently asked questions
Are Culver's' fries vegan?
Yes — Culver's' fries are vegan by ingredient. Plant-based; shared fryer is the caveat.
Are Culver's' fries gluten-free?
No — Culver's' fries are not safe for celiac disease. Rice-flour coating is wheat-free, but Culver's explicitly notes fryer cross-contact with wheat.
What oil are Culver's' fries cooked in?
Culver's' fries are cooked in Canola oil. Full oil and fryer details — including whether the fryer is shared with breaded items — are documented on this page.
Are Culver's' fries dairy-free?
Culver's' fries do not contain dairy as an ingredient. No dairy in ingredients; shared fryer with cheese curds, onion rings (milk).
How many calories are in Culver's' fries?
A medium crinkle-cut order of Culver's' fries contains 360 calories, 14g total fat (2g saturated fat), 400mg sodium, 53g carbs, and 6g protein. Source: Culver's official nutrition PDF.
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In the wild
Thick, yellow-gold crinkle cuts with the distinctive wavy profile. Similar shape to Shake Shack but thicker.
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Sources
Every claim on this page is sourced. If a source is wrong, dated, or missing, tell us — we update quickly.
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Important — read before you eat
Ingredient formulations change, sometimes with no public announcement. Allergen risk at any fast-food restaurant depends on the specific location, the time of day, and the staff on shift. For severe allergies, confirm ingredients with the restaurant at the point of ordering, and when in doubt, ask about fryer and equipment cross-contact. This page is an independent reference — not medical advice.
