Which Keto Ice Cream Is Best? We Tested and Ranked the Top 4 Brands

Ask anyone whether they occasionally crave certain foods, and most people can name at least a few favorites without hesitation. According to a 2019 New York Post survey of 2,000 Americans, the average person spends about 240 hours per year—roughly 40 minutes a day—thinking about what they would like to eat. The same survey found that Americans think about food an average of four times each day. Other research suggests that food cravings are common, affecting approximately 80% of women and 60% of men on a regular basis. Whether you follow a low-carb lifestyle or not, chances are you've experienced a powerful food craving yourself.

Food cravings can be influenced by many factors. Sometimes they may signal that your body is lacking adequate nutrition or certain nutrients. In other cases, emotions such as stress, boredom, anxiety, or the desire for comfort may play a role. Most cravings are likely a combination of both physical and psychological factors.

Ice cream consistently ranks among America's most-craved foods. Its rich, creamy texture and sweet flavor create a pleasurable eating experience that many people associate with comfort and relaxation. Studies have shown that foods we enjoy activate regions of the brain associated with pleasure and reward, helping explain why a bowl of ice cream can be so tempting after a long day.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for keto ice cream.

If you're following a low-carb or ketogenic lifestyle and occasionally want a frozen treat, there are now several sugar-free and keto-friendly ice cream options available. We tested some of the most popular brands on the market and evaluated them based on flavor, scoopability, mouthfeel, net carbohydrates, ingredient quality, and overall keto friendliness.

One brand that did not make our list is Arctic Zero, which we do not recommend for several reasons.

Below are Chef Janine's's top four keto ice cream choices, ranked from our favorite to our least favorite.

4. HALO TOP KETO

This is our least favorite choice among the four brands we tested. You can find Halo Top Keto in most major grocery chains.

• Halo Top Keto ice creams have a wide selection of flavors. The basic flavors taste fine, yet some flavors are too sweet and artificial tasting. Comfort Keto's least favorite flavor is Jelly Donut. Some flavors have a creamy mouthfeel, yet some flavors are a bit chalky.

• This brand is not easily scoopable straight out of the freezer and needs about 5-10 on the counter.

• They use erythritol as sweetener which is good.

• Net carbs are about 6-7 grams.

• The ingredients are not totally clean, as this brand contains cornstarch, maltitol, and even wheat - not good for folks who are diabetic.

• We consider this brand to be dirty keto at most. We recommend this brand if there are no other options available..

3. ENLIGHTENED KETO

This one is our third best choice. You can find this brand at Sprouts and other major grocery chains.

• Enlightened Keto ice creams have a wide selection of flavors. All flavors taste great and have a good creamy mouthfeel, yet some flavors are a bit chalky.

• This brand is not easily scoopable straight out of the freezer and needs about 5-10 on the counter.

• They use erythritol and allulose as sweetener which is good.

• Net carbs are about 7-8 grams.

• The ingredients are quite clean, yet this brand contains soluble corn fiber - not perfect for folks who are diabetic.

• We consider this brand to be acceptable keto, yet not the best.

2. KETO PINT

This one is our second best choice. You can find this brand in Grocery Outlet.

• Keto Pint ice creams taste great and have a good creamy mouthfeel, yet are less sweet than other brands.

• This brand is not easily scoopable straight out of the freezer and needs about 15 on the counter.

• They use erythritol as sweetener which is good.

• Net carbs are about 6 grams.

• The ingredients are quite clean.

• We consider this brand to be clean keto.

1. REBEL CREAMERY

This one is our top choice. You can find this brand in all major grocery chains and big box stores including Walmart.

• Rebel ice creams have a wide selection of flavors. All flavors taste great and have perfect creamy mouthfeel. We recommend the triple chocolate among all flavors.

• Its creamy texture makes it perfect to scoop straight out of the freezer.

• They use erythritol as sweetener which is good.

• Net carbs are between 5-8 grams.

• The ingredients of all flavors are quite clean.

• We consider this brand to be clean keto.

Final Thoughts

The good news is that following a ketogenic lifestyle no longer means giving up ice cream. Today's keto ice cream brands have come a long way, offering rich flavors, satisfying textures, and significantly fewer carbohydrates than traditional ice cream.

While all four products on our list can satisfy an occasional craving, Rebel Creamery stood out as our overall favorite for its flavor, creamy texture, ingredient quality, and ease of scoopability. As always, remember that keto treats are still treats and are best enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall healthy low-carb lifestyle.

If you have a favorite keto ice cream that didn't make our list, we'd love to hear about it. Until then, keep calm, stay keto, and enjoy every spoonful.

Bon Appétit!

Chef Janine.