For those embarking on a ketogenic diet, one of the most challenging aspects can be giving up staple foods like bread. Traditional bread is often loaded with ingredients like gluten, high-fructose corn syrup, and ammonium sulfate, which can trigger inflammation and cause spikes in insulin levels, potentially leading to chronic conditions such as diabetes and celiac disease. Fortunately, the market for keto-friendly bread alternatives has expanded significantly, offering a way to enjoy sandwiches and toast without derailing your low-carb lifestyle. This review explores various keto bread options, evaluating them on taste, texture, and overall satisfaction.
The Rise of Keto Bread
The Great Low Carb Bread Company, founded in North Hollywood in 2013, aimed to help people transition to keto by making delicious yet healthy bread. They have been making the best tasting keto bread since before keto was cool. Diabetes is simply a carbohydrate intolerance, and when your body can’t tolerate something, you stop eating it. Many brands claim to make keto bread, but they use products that trigger inflammation. The best keto bread isn’t easy to find. We tried some pret-ty gnarly loaves of the stuff to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.
What Makes Bread Keto-Friendly?
Following a keto diet typically means sticking to a maximum of 50 grams of carbs per day. Many keto-friendly foods, including bread, advertise their carb content through "net carbs." Net carbs are calculated by subtracting the amount of fiber and certain sugar alcohols from the total carbs, based on the premise that these components are not fully absorbed or metabolized by the body. While the science behind net carbs is debated and not officially recognized by the FDA or the American Diabetes Association, it remains a common benchmark for keto dieters.
Evaluating Keto Bread: Taste, Texture, and More
The key to a good keto bread lies in its ability to mimic the taste and texture of traditional bread without the high carb count. The best keto bread doesn’t taste like a foot. Some keto breads are chalky and dissolve in your mouth, while others simply taste bad. The ideal keto white bread should be as bland as possible, minimizing the sour, bitter funk that often plagues these alternatives. For seeded and sweet keto breads, additional flavors can help mask any unpleasant aftertaste.
Texturally, the best keto bread should be soft but sturdy, springy but not too squishy, and satisfying to tear - hallmarks of a classic loaf.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Great Low Carb Bread Company: A Closer Look
Transitioning to a keto diet is challenging, especially if you’ve been eating bread and pasta for your entire life. But this is where Great Low Carb Bread Company can help. The Great Low Carb Bread Company has been making the best tasting keto bread since before keto was cool. If you’re starting out on a keto diet, then the Great Low Carb Bread subscription is worth it. The products don’t have a strange aftertaste and help you beat carb cravings with high-quality ingredients. The taste is yummy. It’s also super easy to make. It’s best to buy enough for a few weeks and put them in the freezer. The ordering process is exciting because Great Low Carb Bread offers so many options to choose from. But Great Low Carb Bread Company is super transparent. I also like stocking up on their chocolate chip cookie and muffin mix.
Key Products
- Low-Carb Hawaiian Slider Rolls: These rolls cost around $7.99 per bag, containing nine rolls. With eight grams of carbs and seven grams of fiber, they have only one gram of net carbs per bun.
- Low-Carb Bagels: Each bag contains six servings and costs $7.99.
- Low-Carb Thin Slice Bread: This bread contains only one gram of net carb per slice and 60 calories, making it a good option for weight loss. Store-bought bread typically contains over 80 calories per slice.
Great Low Carb Bread products stay fresh for a long time, especially when frozen. The company also offers bulk discounts.
Other Keto Bread Options and Brands
The market offers a variety of keto bread brands, each with its own unique characteristics.
- Kroger Carbmaster Buns: These hot dog buns have a net carb total of 4 grams per bun and offer a fairly bland, soft taste.
- Walmart Bettergoods Buns: These buns have a neutral flavor and texture, making them a good choice for barbecues.
- Inked Bread (Seeded): This smaller brand makes artisanal and low-carb loaves. The seeded bread has a fun textural pop from the flax seeds and claims to have only 1 gram of net carbs per slice.
- Kroger's House Brand: This bread leans sweet, with 4 grams of net carbs per slice, and feels more bread-like than many other keto options.
- Sola: Sola is known for making keto bread that closely resembles genuine bread. Their Sweet Oat bread is a popular choice, with just 2 grams of net carbs per slice.
- Unbun (formerly Unbread): This brand offers a spongy, slightly wet texture with a good wheat berry flavor and a saltier taste than other keto breads.
- Hero’s Classic White Bread: Each slice is soft and fluffy, with a neutral aftertaste and 0 net carbs.
Comparing Keto Bread Brands: A Taste Test
To identify the best keto-friendly bread, several popular brands were evaluated based on looks, flavor, and texture, both fresh and toasted.
- Dave’s Killer Bread (Thin-Sliced): This bread stood out with its full, well-rounded flavor of high-quality seeded wheat bread and a hearty texture.
- Sola Sweet Oat: With just 9 grams of carbohydrates and 40 calories per slice, this bread has a nice subtle sweetness and a warm, oaty flavor.
- L’oven Fresh Keto Friendly Bread (Aldi): This Italian-style white bread has a subtly tangy flavor and a hint of sweetness.
- Nature’s Own Keto Hamburger Rolls: These rolls are soft and fluffy, with a light and stretchy texture and no added sugar.
- Arnold Keto Bread: This bread has a fibrous, oddly chewy texture and an artificial taste.
- Base Culture Keto Bread: This gluten-free keto bread was flavorless and had a dry, crumbly texture.
The Benefits of Keto Bread
- Weight Management: Keto bread can be a valuable tool for weight management due to its low carbohydrate and calorie content.
- Blood Sugar Control: By minimizing carbohydrates, keto bread helps stabilize blood sugar levels, making it a suitable option for individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance.
- Reduced Inflammation: Keto bread avoids inflammatory ingredients like gluten and high-fructose corn syrup, potentially reducing inflammation in the body.
- Satisfying Carb Cravings: Keto bread allows individuals to enjoy bread-like products without derailing their low-carb diet, helping to manage cravings and maintain dietary adherence.
Making the Switch to Keto Bread
Transitioning to keto bread can be a smooth process with the right approach.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
- Start Gradually: You won’t have to give up bread overnight. Begin by replacing one or two servings of traditional bread with keto bread each day.
- Explore Different Brands: Experiment with various brands and types of keto bread to find the ones that best suit your taste preferences.
- Pair with Keto-Friendly Foods: Enjoy keto bread with keto-friendly toppings and fillings, such as avocado, eggs, cheese, and low-carb spreads.
- Be Mindful of Ingredients: Always check the ingredient list to ensure the bread is free from artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors, as well as high-fructose corn syrup.
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