This guide will help you find the best organic heavy cream brands for a keto diet. We made sure that all the heavy cream brands listed on this guide are sugar-free, carb-free, carrageenan-free, organic, and keto-friendly. We have also classified them based on their pasteurization method (UHT or HTST).
Here is an overview of the heavy cream brands that are BEST and WORST for keto:
- Organic Valley Organic Heavy Whipping Cream
- Clover Sonoma Organic Heavy Cream
- Stonyfield Organic Heavy Whipping Cream
- Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream
- Natural By Nature Organic Grass-Fed Heavy Cream
- Humboldt Organic Heavy Whipping Cream
- 365 Everyday Value Organic Heavy Cream
- Dairy Pure Heavy Cream
- Hood Heavy Cream
- Marva Maid Heavy Whipping Cream
- Darigold Heavy Whipping Cream
- Knudsen Heavy Whipping Cream
If you’re wondering what’s the difference between UHT (Ultra High Temperature) and HTST (Hot Temperature, Short Time), you may click on this link to skip to that part.
Best Heavy Cream Brands For Keto
Best Overall: Organic Valley Organic Heavy Whipping Cream
- No carbs and sugar so it’s keto-friendly
- Does not contain carrageenan, an artificial thickener that may cause inflammation and bloating.
- Organic, Non-GMO, and no synthetic hormones.
- Always available on Amazon Fresh and most grocery stores
- Longer shelf-life since it’s ultra-pasteurized (UHT)
- It’s UHT-pasteurized so it tastes less creamy and contains fewer nutrients than HTST-pasteurized brands.
Calories: 50 | Fat: 6g | Net Carbs: 0g | Protein: 0g
Organic Valley is our top pick because it satisfies almost all the checklist of an organic keto-friendly dairy product.
It’s carb-free so it won’t mess up your ketosis; It also does not contain carrageenan, which is a harmful artificial thickener that may cause inflammation or bloating; It’s also organic, non-GMO, and free from synthetic hormones so you are sure that the product is natural and does not contain harmful chemicals.
However, what really separates Organic Valley Heavy Cream from other organic brands is its market availability. Unlike the other brands in this review, you can easily purchase Organic Valley products either from Amazon Fresh or in most grocery stores.
UHT Runner-Up: Clover Sonoma Organic Heavy Cream
- No carbs and sugar so it’s keto-friendly
- Does not contain carrageenan, an artificial thickener that may cause inflammation and bloating.
- Organic, Non-GMO, and no synthetic hormones.
- Longer shelf-life since it’s ultra-pasteurized (UHT)
- Not always available on Amazon Fresh and most grocery stores
- It’s UHT-pasteurized so it tastes less creamy and contains fewer nutrients than HTST-pasteurized brands.
Calories: 60 | Fat: 6g | Net Carbs: 0g | Protein: 0g
Clover Sonoma is our top UHT-pasteurized pick because it also has the same nutrient profile as our top-pick, Organic Valley.
The only difference is it is not available online most of the time and it’s more expensive than Organic Valley.
Other than that, Clover Sonoma has all the qualities of a keto-friendly dairy product – no carbs, organic, Non-GMO, carrageenan-free, and no synthetic hormones.
UHT Runner-Up: Stonyfield Organic Heavy Whipping Cream
- No carbs and sugar so it’s keto-friendly
- Does not contain carrageenan, an artificial thickener that may cause inflammation and bloating.
- Organic
- Longer shelf-life since it’s ultra-pasteurized
- Might contain GMO ingredients since it is not certified as a Non-GMO product
- Not always available on Amazon Fresh and most grocery stores
- It’s UHT-pasteurized so it tastes less creamy and contains fewer nutrients than HTST-pasteurized brands.
Calories: 50 | Fat: 6g | Net Carbs: 0g | Protein: 0g
Stonyfield is almost the same as our top 2 products except that it is not certified as non-GMO.
So if you are following a strict non-GMO keto diet, then we suggest that you just stick with our first two picks.
Other than that minor drawback, you can add this no-carb, carrageenan-free, organic dairy product into your keto diet.
UHT Runner-Up: Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream
- No carbs and sugar so it’s keto-friendly
- Organic
- Longer shelf-life since it’s ultra-pasteurized
- Contains small amounts of carrageenan, an artificial thickener that may cause inflammation and bloating.
- Might contain GMO ingredients since it is not certified as a Non-GMO product
- Not always available on Amazon Fresh and most grocery stores
- It’s ultra-pasteurized (UHT) so it tastes less creamy and contains fewer nutrients than pasteurized brands.
Calories: 50 | Fat: 5g | Net Carbs: 0g | Protein: 0g
Horizon Organic is a keto-friendly option, especially when referring to its macronutrient profile – no carbs and 5 grams of fat per tablespoon.
However, the only drawback is it uses small amounts of carrageenan as an artificial thickener. Carrageenan is an artificial emulsifier that makes the cream thicker and its shelf-life longer. However, carrageenan is also linked to inflammation and bloating.
This brand won’t still mess up with your ketosis considering that it does not contain carbs. However, just keep in mind that there are better keto-friendly options out there that are also included in this guide.
HTST Runner-Up: Natural By Nature Organic Grass-Fed Heavy Cream
- No carbs and sugar so it’s keto-friendly
- Does not contain carrageenan, an artificial thickener that may cause inflammation and bloating.
- Organic and Non-GMO
- Milk is made from grass-fed cows
- HTST-pasteurized so it tastes creamier and it contains more nutrients than UHT-pasteurized brands.
- Not available online and most grocery stores due to its short expiration period
Calories: 50 | Fat: 5g | Net Carbs: 0g | Protein: 0g
Natural by Nature is actually the ideal heavy cream brand for keto since it is the only grass-fed brand among the other brands reviewed. Moreover, it is also HTST-pasteurized so the nutrients from the grass-fed cows are retained in the heavy cream.
However, the only downside of Natural by Nature is its market availability. Sure, it is very nutritious and healthy – but it is not available in most online or grocery stores since it’s hard to produce and it has a very short shelf-life.
If you’re lucky enough to have this brand available in your local area, then don’t hesitate to buy since it passes all the checklist for being a keto-friendly dairy product.
HTST Runner-Up: Humboldt Organic Heavy Whipping Cream
- No carbs and sugar so it’s keto-friendly
- Does not contain carrageenan, an artificial thickener that may cause inflammation and bloating.
- Organic and Non-GMO
- HTST-pasteurized so it tastes creamier and it contains more nutrients than UHT-pasteurized brands.
- Only available on local grocery stores due to its short expiration period
Calories: 50 | Fat: 5g | Net Carbs: 0g | Protein: 0g
Humboldt is another HTST-pasteurized option apart from Natural by Nature. The only difference is this is not certified to be grass-fed.
As with all HTST-pasteurized brands, the downside of this brand is its market availability. If this is available on your local grocery store, then you can certainly can’t go wrong with this brand.
HTST Runner-Up: 365 Everyday Value Organic Heavy Cream
- No carbs and sugar so it’s keto-friendly
- Does not contain carrageenan, an artificial thickener that may cause inflammation and bloating.
- Organic
- Pasteurized using HTST so it tastes creamier and it contains more nutrients than UHT-pasteurized brands.
- Might contain GMO ingredients since it is not certified as a Non-GMO product
- Only available on Whole Foods due to its short expiration period
Calories: 50 | Fat: 6g | Net Carbs: 0g | Protein: 0g
365 Everyday Value is another HTST-pasteurized brand that you can buy at Whole Foods.
It’s keto-friendly and HTST-pasteurized so it tastes creamier and it’s packed with natural nutrients from the milk. You certainly can’t go wrong with this brand.
So if you have access to a local Whole Foods store and they happen to have this brand, then buy it without hesitation.
Popular Brands That Are Not Keto-Friendly
These are examples of heavy cream brands that you should avoid for keto. There are other brands out there that are not keto-friendly, but you will now be able to determine if they are keto or not based on these examples.
Not Keto Heavy Cream #1: Dairy Pure Heavy Cream
- Contains carrageenan
- Contains mono and di-glycerides
- Contains 1g of carb per serving
- Not organic
- Might contain GMO ingredients since it is not certified as Non-GMO
Calories: 50 | Fat: 5g | Net Carbs: 1g | Protein: 0g
Not Keto Heavy Cream #2: Hood Heavy Cream
- Contains carrageenan
- Contains mono and di-glycerides
- Contains less than 1g of carb per serving
- Not organic
- Might contain GMO ingredients since it is not certified as Non-GMO
Calories: 50 | Fat: 5g | Net Carbs: < 1g | Protein: 0g
Not Keto Heavy Cream #3: Marva Maid Heavy Whipping Cream
- Contains carrageenan
- Contains mono and di-glycerides
- Contains 0.5g of carb per serving
- Not organic
- Might contain GMO ingredients since it is not certified as Non-GMO
Calories: 50 | Fat: 5g | Net Carbs: 0.5g | Protein: 0g
Not Keto Heavy Cream #4: Darigold Heavy Whipping Cream
- Contains carrageenan
- Contains mono and di-glycerides
- Contains less than 1g of carb per serving
- Not organic
- Might contain GMO ingredients since it is not certified as Non-GMO
Calories: 50 | Fat: 5g | Net Carbs: < 1g | Protein: 0g
Not Keto Heavy Cream #5: Knudsen Heavy Whipping Cream
- Contains carrageenan
- Contains mono and di-glycerides
- Not organic
- Might contain GMO ingredients since it is not certified as Non-GMO
Calories: 50 | Fat: 5g | Net Carbs: 0g | Protein: 0g
Differences Between UHT and HTST
UHT-Pasteurized (Ultra-High Temperature)
- The shelf-life is longer (up to 60 days)
- Available online and in most grocery stores
- Even the non-harmful bacteria are eliminated during the process so it contains fewer nutrients
- Tastes less creamy than HTST-pasteurized
UHT (ultra-high temperature) pasteurization is a process wherein the milk is sterilized by heating it above 275 °F for 2 to 5 seconds. This makes the milk sterile from any bacteria and makes it last longer for up to 60 days.
Due to its longer shelf-life, UHT brands are easier to produce and more likely to be available on the grocery stores most of the time.
However, heating the milk to very high temperatures also diminishes its nutrient content. So it’s basically trading off some of the milk’s nutrient content for a longer shelf-life. Moreover, most people also find that UHT-pasteurized milk is less creamy than HTST.
HTST-Pasteurized (Hot Temperature, Short Time)
- Only the harmful bacteria are killed during the sterilization process so it contains more nutrients than UHT
- Tastes creamier than UHT products
- Only lasts for 17 days
- Only available on select local grocery stores
HTST pasteurization is a process wherein the milk is sterilized by heating it for 15 seconds at no more than 165 °F – a temperature proven to eliminate harmful microbes without reducing the milk’s nutritional content.
This makes the HTST milk to be more creamy and nutritious than UHT milk. However, HTST-pasteurized products only last for about 17 days which is a much shorter period compared to UHT’s expiration period of 60 days.
This makes HTST products to be less available on the market since it only lasts for a few days. Most HTST products are only available on select local grocery stores.
Popular Keto Recipes With Heavy Cream
Now that you know the best heavy cream brands to buy for keto, it’s time to use it on a keto-friendly recipe! Click any of the mouthwatering pictures below for the full recipe.
Creamy Herb Mushroom Chicken 
Keto Chicken Tikka Masala 
Creamy Tuscan Chicken 
Creamy Keto Tuscan Soup 
Keto Breakfast Pizza 
Creamy Keto Broccoli 
Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken 
Shrimp and Spinach Cream Sauce
Heavy Cream FAQs
Most heavy cream brands are not keto-friendly because they contain around 0.5 grams of carbs per serving and it is also mixed with harmful chemicals such as carrageenan, monoglycerides, and diglycerides. However, there are keto-friendly brands that don’t contain carbs and harmful chemicals and are certified organic such as Organic Valley, Clover Sonoma, Stonyfield, Natural by Nature, Humboldt, and 365 Everyday Value.
The difference between the heavy cream and half and half is based on their milk fat content. Heavy cream contains 36% – 40% milk fat. On the other hand, half and half, which stands for half milk and half cream, contains 10% to 18% milk fat.
The difference between the heavy cream and whipping cream is based on their milk fat content. Heavy cream contains 36% – 40% milk fat. On the other hand, whipping cream or light whipping cream contains 30% to 35% milk fat.
The difference between the heavy cream and half and half is based on their milk fat content. Heavy cream contains 36% – 40% milk fat. On the other hand, double cream contains 48% milk fat.
You can freeze heavy cream by double wrapping the unopened heavy cream carton with freezer bags. You can then thaw it in the fridge, then shake it to redistribute the milk fat before opening. Don’t refreeze after opening.
Lactose is the natural sugar of milk. Heavy cream is made by skimming off only the fatty liquid that rises to the top of the milk. Thus, heavy cream contains almost no lactose or sugar. Heavy cream can also be consumed by individuals with lactose-intolerance.
Heavy cream is gluten-free as with all dairy products that don’t contain wheat. It’s best to check the ingredients at the product’s label to ensure that it does not contain gluten or wheat.
Heavy cream does go bad since it is made from milk. UHT-pasteurized heavy cream brands often last longer than HTST-pasteurized brands.
You can use heavy cream in coffee as a substitute for milk especially when you are trying to reduce the amount of carbs you consume. Heavy cream contains almost no carbs or sugar so it’s a good substitute for low-carb diets such as the ketogenic diet.
Heavy cream is a milk-based product which is allowed in a vegetarian diet. On the other hand, heavy cream is not allowed on a vegan diet wherein even milk-based products are prohibited.
Don’t forget to share this keto heavy cream guide with your friends!
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1700062/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26026762
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5688360/
