If you’re wondering What’s The Best Milk For Keto, I’ve got you covered.
With everything from the best keto cow’s milk, to low-carb healthy milk alternatives, you’ll have so many options you won’t even realize you’re on a special diet.
What’s The Best Milk For Keto?
We love drinking a nice tall glass of milk with our Keto PBJ and splashing it over Magic Spoon keto cereal.
When you follow a Keto Diet a lot of thought goes into the meals you eat, the type of bread used for sandwiches, and much more.
There’s no reason to blow your Low-Carb Diet with a glass of high-carb milk. That’s why I’m here to help you figure out What’s The Best Milk For Keto.
How Many Carbs In Milk?
If you’re on a Keto Diet and wondering how many carbs there are in cow’s milk the answer may not be what you’re hoping for.
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That’s because whole milk has 12 grams of carbs per 8 ounce glass. Whole milk is not a keto-friendly food, and certainly not a good choice when counting carbs on your keto diet.
Can You Have Heavy Cream On Keto?
If you can have cow dairy in your diet, heavy cream is a great keto milk option, though it doesn’t really have the same taste or mouthfeel as cow’s milk because it is so creamy and high in fat that it’s almost greasy.
But it’s the high-fat content that makes heavy cream the perfect keto milk for those following intensive therapeutic ketogenic diets where only 20 grams of carbohydrates per day are allowed.
For more on that check out my Interview with the Top Keto Diet Expert in the World.
What Are The Best Milk Alternatives For Keto?
If you’re on a Dairy-Free Diet heavy cream won’t work for you, but don’t worry, I have plenty of other keto milk options!
There are several low-carb milk alternatives for keto that will rock your special diets world.
Is Almond Milk Keto?
I think the best milk for the keto diet is almond milk. It’s my favorite because it’s very low-carb and has incredible flavor and mouthfeel.
The benefits of drinking almond milk are numerous. Almond milk is dairy-free, vegan, and low-carb to boot.
And there are a number of additional pluses when it comes to almond milk nutrition because it’s high in:
- Vitamin E
- Calcium
- Potassium
If you’re wondering how to make your own almond milk I have a fantastic Homemade Almond Milk recipe for you.
Along with that, I have phenomenal low-carb recipes for using the leftover pulp from the almond milk so that nothing goes to waste!
Is Shelf Stable Almond Milk Low-Carb?
I’m often asked, does almond milk need to be refrigerated? The answer is a resounding yes.
That is unless you buy shelf-stable almond milk in a carton. Once you open that carton it loses its vacuum-packed seal and will need to go right into the refrigerator.
As you may have guessed, I’m a huge fan of almond milk.
I’m so in love with almonds that I wrote The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook in 2008.
Dairy Free Nut Milk Recipes
If you’re not as head over heels for almonds as I am then check out my milk substitute recipes for homemade:
When it comes to low-carb, keto milk alternatives the possibilities are seemingly endless.
Unsweetened Almond Milk For Keto
Just be sure to buy unsweetened almond milk, otherwise, you’re basically drinking liquid carbs which will spike your blood glucose very quickly.
Sweetened almond milk is not a keto-friendly food.
Is Coconut Milk Keto?
Coconut milk is also a fantastic keto-friendly food. Just be sure to buy unsweetened coconut milk.
Is Canned Coconut Milk Keto?
If you’re on a Keto Diet you can use canned coconut milk as long as it’s unsweetened.
I use canned coconut milk in most of my recipes that call for coconut milk like Paleo Pumpkin Pie and 3-Ingredient Keto Chocolate Pudding.
I also use canned coconut milk in many of my low-carb keto ice cream recipes including fan-favorites Low-Carb Creamsicle Ice Cream and Vegan Mint Chip Ice Cream.
Is Coconut Milk In The Carton Keto?
You’re in luck again if you’re looking for more keto milk options because as long as it’s unsweetened, coconut milk in the carton is a fantastic keto milk.
We like this in our Magic Spoon Cereal, and also in Ginger Licorice Tea.
My husband uses this type of coconut milk for his morning coffee, and I love it in my Dandelion Coffee because it’s so creamy and reminds me of the days when I drank actual coffee and added real heavy cream to it.
Those days are long gone since my body does not tolerate caffeine.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve also realized that I’m somewhat carb intolerant, so the keto diet is fantastic for me.
Is Oat Milk Good For Keto?
When my boys are home I keep oat milk in the refrigerator. They say it tastes fantastic.
Some of their friends have even asked me –is oat milk dairy-free? Yes, apparently it tastes so creamy that people can’t tell the difference between oat milk and cow’s milk.
Oat milk is not an option for me for a couple of reasons.
When I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 1998 I went on a Gluten-Free Diet and when that didn’t do the trick, I went on a grain-free Paleo Diet shortly thereafter.
I haven’t eaten any grains in decades so oat milk is not an option for me. Furthermore, it is a high-carb drink so a double no-no.
Is oat milk a keto-friendly food? The answer is no. Oat milk is not keto.
What’s The Best Milk For The Keto Diet?
I’ve compiled the table below so that you have the macros for milks at a glance.
As you can see, heavy cream, almond milk, and coconut milk are the clear winners because they’re low in carbohydrates.
What’s The Best Alternative Milk For Keto?
If you’re on a dairy-free diet and looking for healthy milk alternatives, the best low-carb, keto replacements are almond milk and coconut milk.
They’re both delicious on low-carb keto cereal like Magic Spoon.
If you are wondering if almond milk is vegan, yes it is, and so is coconut milk.
Keto Milk For Low-Carb Cereal
Mr. Pantry, who now follows my low-carb diet LOVES almond milk on Magic Spoon keto-friendly cereal. Other times he has it with coconut milk from the carton for an extra creamy treat.
If you’re craving keto cereal with milk and don’t want to buy Magic Spoon, make my Low-Carb Granola recipe.
Cookies And Milk For Keto
I just pulled a batch of my Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies out of the oven and poured a tall glass of my favorite brand of almond milk to drink with it.
Something about this makes me so happy, probably because it reminds me of having cookies and milk in the old days when I was growing up!
Keto Brownies
We also love almond milk with my Keto Brownies for a classic treat.
What’s Your Favorite Low-Carb Milk?
What’s your favorite go-to milk that’s low-carb and keto-friendly? Leave a comment and let me know. And if I missed anything I’d be happy to answer your questions in the comments!
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives. I first shared What’s The Best Milk For Keto in 2020.
mel says
What are your thoughts on Carbmaster milk (3g carb/cup) from Kroeger’s or Ralph’s grocery stores? I love them so much but having a hard time finding them in the East Coast. Any suggestions? Pls help! Thx.
Elana says
Mel, I am not able to digest cow milk so that’s not an option for me :-)
teena says
What about flax seed milk
Elana says
Teena, the ones I’ve seen at the store seem to have a lot of added ingredients –have you found one you love? If so, would love to know about it.
Heather Lonsway says
I make my own sesame seed milk. I’m not sure if it is keto but it works for me.
Elana says
Heather, I think it is!
Mary Ann says
I like macadamia milk. I can’t have coconut and don’t really like almond milk so macadamia milk is great for me. I also can’t have eggs–especially the whites; therefore, many of the keto recipes just don’t work for me. I would love to find more coconut free, egg free recipes.
Elana says
Mary Ann, here’s a link to my Egg-Free Recipes for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/egg-free-diet/
Enjoy!
Elana
Becky D says
One reader suggested using “chia seed eggs” for one of the bread recipes. She does a 1:3 ratio eg 1 TBS chia seeds to 3 TBS water, let sit for 15 minutes or until seeds have soaked up water. It sounds really tasty and it’s great source of Omega 3s.
Theresa Berringer says
What are your thoughts about Cashew milk?
Elana says
Theresa, I think cashew milk is super tasty and so easy to make. It’s a bit high in carbs so not perfect for keto, but I have a fantastic recipe for it here:
https://elanaspantry.com/cashew-milk/
Enjoy!
Elana
Megan Rebich says
Good info and ordered the cereal too!
Elana says
Megan, thanks for your comment! I hope you love it as much as we do :-)
Grace D Cooke says
What about raw milk? I live in Colorado & our raw milk comes from a farm in Brookfield.
Elana says
Grace, that sounds great if you can consume dairy!
Andrea says
Hello Elana,
thanks for this really helpful collection! I was surprised (and happy) to see Arroy D coconut milk (the carton one) on the list. I stopped using it because I read that carrageen, which is included in this milk, is not a good thing to eat or drink. So you do not think it is a problem? Thanks for your advice!
Elana says
Andrea, thanks so much for your comment and question! The one I have here in our pantry says it has only one ingredient –coconut milk.
Andrea says
Elana, sorry to pick on this topic again. Maybe it is due to European standards or different import regulations. I bought Aroy-D a couple of days ago, looked at the ingredients and there was no Carageen, but E435 which is Polysorbat60. It does not sound too bad, yet I would be very interested in your opinion. Thank you!
Elana says
Andrea, no need to apologize! The Aroy-D coconut milk in my pantry is made of 100% coconut milk and nothing else according to the label and we love it. We like using a pure product so this one is good for us. If you are in Europe you may find that the options are different and that you may need to make different choices :-)
Andrea says
Thank you, Elana! Always a good thing to have your expertise!
Elana says
Andrea, you’re very welcome!
Teri Culver says
I love Summerhill goat milk, but I don’t drink much of it. It is a milk that I can digest much easier than cow’s milk, but it still has higher carbs than almond milk. I treat myself occasionally on my low carb diet, otherwise I use Organic Soy Silk milk which has 1 carb per serving and does taste rich and creamy.
Elana says
Thanks Teri!
Jeanne White says
I find nut milks to have a watery taste and are not at all satisfying. However, drinking straight heavy cream is disgusting, to say the least. I drink a glass of nut milk with a few tablespoons of cream added. I get the creamy taste and texture without the greasiness of straight cream. Also, in recipes I am converting that call for milk, I substitute half water, half cream.
Elana says
Jeanne, thanks for all the great tips and tricks!
Michelle Brietzman says
I can’t have almonds or much coconut so I have started making my own hemp milk. I don’t strain it so occasionally it has pieces but I don’t mind any more…
Elana says
Michelle, that sounds amazing on so many levels –healthy, keto, and delicious. I need to start making hemp milk again :-)