So, is creme fraiche keto? We’ll keep it easy for you, yes it is! Creme fraiche can be delicious in savory or sweet dishes. Read on to find out the nutritional value, plus some of our favorite serving suggestions!
Creme Fraiche
The literal translation of creme fraiche from French to English is “fresh cream”, yet weirdly, there’s nothing “fresh” about the food, considering it’s made by preserving leftover milk.
The process of making it involves using lactic acid bacteria and letting it rest in a covered container at room temperature until it thickens to that of custard consistency. The environment created by this bacteria is what allows Creme Fraiche to keep it from spoiling for a number of weeks.
Creme Fraiche does have a higher fat content than both yogurt and sour cream. It has a much higher fat content than both, which gives it more of a resemblance to a rich, creamy, texture. Its mild tanginess does throw a spanner in the works if envisaging pouring it on top of your favorite baked dessert.
A Keto-Cap (aka A Keto Recap!)
If you’re new to keto and want a bit more information, check out our keto beginners guide.
As a quick summary, if you need it, the keto (also known as the ketogenic diet) is a low-carb, high-fat diet.
The whole concept of the keto diet is that your body transitions from burning glucose, in simple terms, sugars or carbohydrates, to burning fat as its primary fuel source.
For a keto diet, people will restrict their macros to eating;
- 70% of their calories from fat
- 25% from protein
- 5% from carbohydrates
Sticking to these macros for a period of time will put your body into a state of ketosis. Ketosis is when your body has transitioned from burning carbohydrates as its primary fuel source to burning fat for fuel. It is at this point that you will start to see and feel the benefits of the keto diet.
There are a lot of new terms and abbreviations that you may come across, sometimes it can feel like a new language that you need to learn. In order to help you out and keep you on the right track, we have created a keto terms and keto abbreviations guide, bookmark these to make your keto journey easier.
Some people can be put off the keto diet because of the side effects, however, these are only short-lived and the health benefits of keto far outweigh the side effects.
One of the main benefits which attract people to the keto diet is that it can cause significant reductions in insulin levels (by up to 75%) and blood sugar levels, which can be attractive to those that struggle with diabetes, amongst other health complaints.
What is the Nutritional Value of Creme Fraiche?
These values are based on a standard 28-gram portion of Creme Fraiche.
Carbs: 0.7 grams
Protein: 0.7 grams
Fat: 12 grams
Fiber: 0 grams
Sugar: 0.7 grams
Calories: 112 cal
How Many Net Carbs are there in Creme Fraiche?
The net carbohydrate content of a food product or meal measures the number of digestible carbohydrates in the food. It is useful to know this number when tracking your carb intake to lose weight or stay healthy.
This amount can be calculated by deducting the amount of fiber from the total number of carbs within a food item.
There are approximately 0.7g of net carbs in 28g of Creme Fraiche; (0.7 grams of carbs – 0 grams of fiber = 0.7 grams of net carbs).
Is Creme Fraiche Keto Friendly?
Yes. Dairy products are a keto dieter’s best friend by the rule of thumb, which makes the high fat, low protein, and low carb Creme Fraiche no exception.
Out of the 12 grams of fat mentioned above, 7.6 grams of it is saturated fat, which attributes to 36mg of cholesterol. You can add it to keto desserts or savory dishes alike.
Our Favourite Serving Suggestions
There are a number of great keto friendly dishes that you can enjoy creme fraise with. Personally, I enjoy the sharpness of the creme fraiche with a few berries (especially in summer) or I love to stir some into pan fried chicken, onions, and mushrooms, even throw in some courgetti – sometimes it is the most simple dishes that are the most delicious!
Are there different varieties of Creme Fraiche that are not keto?
Just like any original recipe, they can be altered to suit an individual’s needs – primarily wants – when it comes to taste. Creme fraiche naturally has very low sugar content but there are brands out there that add refined sugars to enhance the flavor sensation.
These can easily knock you out of ketosis if you don’t pay proper attention to labels and additives in certain recipes.
TOP TIP
Staying hydrated on the keto diet is really important, for more on how much water you should be drinking, check out our guide to staying hydrated on the keto diet.
If you’re planning on dehydrating yourself(!) and drinking alcohol on the keto diet, check out our ultimate guide to drinking alcohol on a keto diet. Also, you may be interested in, how to recover from a cheat day.
Summary: Is Creme Fraiche Keto Friendly?
Yes, as with a lot of dairy products, creme fraiche is keto friendly. It is high in fat, low in carbs, and moderate in protein which makes it perfect for anybody on the keto diet. Be careful not to be seduced by the ‘low-fat’ options, which can be packed with sugar. Otherwise, go ahead and enjoy!
