Steak 'n Shake Ditching Microwaves From All Restaurants by April
Steak 'n Shake is removing all microwaves from its locations by April. This change is to improve food quality and utilize more traditional cooking methods, the chain says.
The Indianapolis-based chain announced the changes on February 12 on social media, including Instagram and X.
"Quality restaurants don't need microwaves," the chain wrote. "It is part of our journey to improve food quality and use traditional methods of cooking only. Eat Real Food."
Every Steak 'n Shake location is expected to be microwave-free by April 15.
Latest in a Series of Changes
Nixing microwaves is the latest adjustment to hit the fast food chain known for milkshakes and steakburgers. Steak 'n Shake has implemented several changes in recent years trying to make its menu healthier, including switching to frying its food in beef tallow in early 2025.
The Beef Tallow Switch
Steak 'n Shake announced the switch from seed oils to beef tallow in March 2025. Posted on social media: "Steak 'n Shake is proud to support MAHA and Secretary Kennedy! Your days are numbered seed oil. We want to lead the way and make a difference! #MAHA."
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now Human and Health Services Secretary, thanked the restaurant for its "leadership in the crusade to Make America Healthy Again."
Rendered beef fat is a favorite of Kennedy's. He's publicly pushed eateries to use it instead of seed oils, which he's called "one of the most unhealthy ingredients that we have in foods."
Nutritionists Disagree
Some experts aren't supporters of beef tallow, including Kristina Cooke, a licensed nutritionist and registered dietitian with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Cooke "would not recommend swapping seed oils for beef tallow." While consuming small amounts of saturated fat isn't harmful, she explains, it's known to raise cholesterol levels and contribute to metabolic syndrome and several cardiovascular conditions. "It is something most people are consuming too much of — not too little of," she adds.
So, Kennedy says seed oils are one of the most unhealthy ingredients. A registered dietitian says beef tallow raises cholesterol and contributes to heart problems. Steak 'n Shake picked Kennedy's side.
The Coke in Glass Bottles
Steak 'n Shake, which aligned itself with Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again (MAHA)" efforts, also started offering Coca-Cola with cane sugar in glass bottles in August 2025.
"America deserves the best!" the Instagram post announcing the glass bottles reads. "We continue on our MAHA journey."
What This Actually Means
Steak 'n Shake is overhauling its entire operation to align with MAHA. Whether replacing seed oils with saturated fat and removing microwaves actually makes the food healthier is debatable. Registered dietitians say the beef tallow switch isn't recommended. But Steak 'n Shake is all-in on the MAHA journey.
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