Is Shake Shack Safe During Pregnancy? Burgers, Frozen Custard, Shakes and What to Order

Shake Shack is one of the easier burger chains to navigate in pregnancy, mostly because of one line in its FAQ: every egg and every bit of dairy on the menu is pasteurized. That settles the frozen custard question, the sauces and the cheese in one go.

What's left are two things you can control at the counter: how your burger is cooked, and how much caffeine is in your shake. This guide goes through the menu using Shake Shack's own nutrition and allergen guide.

The Menu, Item by Item

The Burgers: Ask for Well-Done

Shake Shack's burgers are made from fresh-ground Angus beef. Shake Shack doesn't publish a cooking temperature, and some diners describe the patties as a little pink in the middle.

Pink matters more for ground beef than for a steak. Grinding mixes any bacteria from the surface of the meat all the way through, which is why the USDA says ground beef should reach 160°F. A steak can be safe pink in the middle, but a burger can't. In pregnancy, that's worth one sentence at the counter: "Can I get that well-done, please?" When it arrives, check there's no pink in the center.

The toppings are all fine: lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, bacon, cherry peppers, avocado and American cheese. Our Five Guys guide and In-N-Out guide cover the same questions at other burger chains.

Is Shake Shack Frozen Custard Safe in Pregnancy?

Yes. Frozen custard is ice cream made with egg yolks, which is why pregnant women sometimes worry about it. Shake Shack answers this directly in its FAQ: "We only use pasteurized eggs and dairy in our menu items." Pasteurization is what makes eggs and dairy safe in pregnancy, so the custard itself isn't a concern.

The one general caution with any soft-serve-style dessert is the machine. Custard and soft serve machines need regular cleaning, because Listeria can grow in a poorly maintained machine. A busy Shake Shack goes through custard quickly, which works in your favor. Our soft serve guide explains the machine question in more detail.

Concretes blend frozen custard with mix-ins. Those are fine too, with one exception to watch for at any custard shop: a raw cookie dough mix-in. Raw dough is only safe if it's made to be eaten raw, with heat-treated flour and no raw eggs. If you're not sure, choose a different mix-in.

Shakes and the Coffee Shake Caffeine

The vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, black and white and cookies and cream shakes are all made with the same pasteurized frozen custard, so they're fine.

The one to skip is the Coffee Shake. Shake Shack's own nutrition guide lists it at 211.1 mg of caffeine per shake. ACOG says moderate caffeine in pregnancy means less than 200 mg a day, so a single Coffee Shake takes you over the limit by itself. Seasonal coffee flavors can be high too: the Biscoff Cookie Butter Tiramisu Shake was listed at about 106 mg. Our caffeine guide shows how to share out your 200 mg.

Chicken, Hot Dogs and the 'Shroom Burger

Chicken Shack and Chicken Bites are fried to order, so they're straightforward.

Flat-Top Dogs are Vienna beef hot dogs cooked on the flat-top griddle and served on a toasted bun. Hot dogs are a ready-to-eat processed meat, and the CDC advises pregnant women to eat them only when heated to 165°F or until steaming hot. Shake Shack cooks them on the flat-top, so they should arrive hot. If yours is lukewarm, ask for a fresh one.

The 'Shroom Burger is a crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar. The mushroom is cooked, and the cheese is pasteurized, so it's a good vegetarian pick.

Breakfast at Shake Shack

Some Shake Shack locations serve breakfast sandwiches with cage-free eggs griddled fresh. The eggs are pasteurized, but the FDA's advice for pregnant women is still to cook eggs until both the yolk and white are firm. Ask for the egg well-cooked, or "no runny yolk." Our runny egg guide explains why.

Lemonade, Iced Tea and Coffee

Lemonade and Fifty-Fifty. The FDA advises pregnant women to drink only pasteurized or treated juice. Shake Shack doesn't say in its nutrition guide whether its lemonade uses fresh-squeezed or pasteurized lemon juice, so ask at the counter. If you can't get an answer, choose iced tea or a soda instead. Our Raising Cane's guide explains why fresh-squeezed lemonade is the issue.

Iced tea and coffee. Iced tea, drip coffee and cold brew all count toward your 200 mg. Cold brew in particular tends to be strong, so a large one can take most of your day's caffeine.

Alcohol. Many Shacks serve beer, wine and cocktails. The CDC says there's no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy, so these are a skip.

Is Shake Shack Nutritious Enough in Pregnancy?

A Single ShackBurger has about 29 grams of protein, which is a solid chunk of what you need in a day. The thing to watch is sodium. Shake Shack's nutrition guide lists a Single ShackBurger at 1,250 mg of sodium and the Big Shack at 2,860 mg. The FDA's Daily Value for sodium is less than 2,300 mg a day, so the Big Shack goes over it before you add fries.

An easy way to keep it balanced: a single rather than a double, regular fries to share or skip, water instead of a shake, and some fruit or vegetables at your next meal.

With Gestational Diabetes, Nausea or Heartburn

Gestational diabetes: a single burger or a lettuce-wrapped burger (Shake Shack offers lettuce wraps) with water is the most balanced order. Shakes and lemonade are very high in sugar. Our gestational diabetes meal plan shows how to fit a meal out into your day.

Nausea: a plain hamburger or Chicken Bites are the gentlest options. A small vanilla cup can be soothing when nothing else appeals.

Heartburn: the SmokeShack's cherry peppers, fried foods, big shakes and large portions are the usual triggers. Our pregnancy heartburn guide has gentler swaps.

Three Easy Shake Shack Orders

• The classic: Single ShackBurger, well-done, regular fries to share, water.
• The vegetarian: 'Shroom Burger with a side of fries.
• The treat: Single Cheeseburger, well-done, and a small vanilla or chocolate custard cup.

For more on eating out, our eating out while pregnant guide covers the same approach at sit-down restaurants.

This article is general information and does not replace advice from your doctor, midwife or dietitian. Menus vary by location and change over time, so check Shake Shack's current nutrition and allergen guide for the latest details.