Sour cream is a condiment that we are all likely familiar with. It goes great on baked potatoes, a bowl of chili, nachos, and it can even be used to thicken baked goods, sauces, and stews. However, with all the dietary restrictions there are today, it can be hard to know which products are safe for certain dietary needs. We all likely know that sour cream is not dairy-free or vegan, but what about gluten-free? Is sour cream safe for those with celiac disease or other gluten intolerances?
Sour Cream is considered gluten-free, as there are no gluten-containing ingredients in the product. However, like any other food, it is recommended that you check the ingredients list for hidden sources of gluten. Organic Valley, Daisy, and Wegmans brands are all gluten-free. The best alternatives include Forager Project Organic Dairy-Free Sour Cream and Kite Hill Sour Cream.
In this article, we’ll discuss the nutritional value of sour cream, as well as highlight other gluten-free alternatives. Let’s dig in!
Contents
Is Sour Cream Healthy?
Sour cream is a rich, slightly tart condiment that is made by fermenting cream from milk with lactic acid bacteria. That may lead some people to wonder whether or not sour cream can be included in a healthy diet.
Due to the fact that sour cream is primarily eaten in small quantities, it is not a significant source of nutrients in most diets. It is for the best, though, that it is only eaten in small quantities because it is high in saturated fat and calories. Large amounts of saturated fats can cause your body to produce more LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, which increases your risk of heart disease.
However, as a result of the fermentation process, sour cream contains probiotics. Probiotics are great for your overall gut health.
Overall, when eaten in moderation, sour cream is ok to include in your healthy diet and likely will not have any detrimental effects on your health.
Popular Brands Of Sour Cream
Organic Valley Sour Cream
Organic milk and live cultures give this gluten-free brand of sour cream an extra-tangy, homemade taste that so many people know and love.
These are the ingredients found in Organic Valley sour cream:
- Organic cultured pasteurized nonfat milk
- Organic pasteurized cream
- Acidophilus and bifidus cultures
- Vegetarian enzyme
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 2tbsp serving):
- Calories: 60
- Total fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
- Sodium: 20mg
- Total carbs: 2g
- Total sugars: 1g
- Protein: 1g
Wegmans Sour Cream
This brand of sour cream is all natural and has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. As the yellow banner on their product states, it is food you feel good about.
These are the ingredients found in Wegmans sour cream:
- Cultured pasteurized Grade A cream (cream, culture)
- Nonfat milk solids
- Enzyme
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 2tbsp serving):
- Calories: 60
- Total fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
- Sodium: 15mg
- Total carbs: 1g
- Protein: 1g
Daisy Sour Cream
This brand of sour cream is America’s favorite and for good reason. The fresh, creamy taste that is free of any additives and preservatives will make you want to do more than just a dollop on your baked potato, chili, nachos, or tacos.
These are the ingredients found in Daisy sour cream:
- Cultured cream
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 2tbsp serving):
- Calories: 60
- Total fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
- Sodium: 15mg
- Total carbs: 1g
- Total sugars: 1g
- Protein: 1g
Is Breakstone Sour Cream Gluten-Free?
Breakstone is another popular brand of sour cream. However, it is an arm of Kraft Foods, Inc., a company that discloses all gluten-containing ingredients on its labels, but does not guarantee the gluten-free status of foods that are not specifically labeled gluten-free. That leads many to wonder if their sour cream is gluten-free since it is not specifically labeled as such.
Based on the ingredients, it is safe to say that Breakstone’s all-natural sour cream is gluten-free. However, potential cross-contamination is always a possibility during manufacturing if the facility process non gluten-free ingredients.
These are the ingredients found in Breakstone sour cream:
- Cultured pasteurized Grade A milk and cream
- Enzymes
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 2tbsp serving):
- Calories: 60
- Total fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
- Sodium: 10mg
- Total carbs: 1g
- Total sugars: 1g
- Protein: <1g
Healthier Sour Cream Alternatives
Although sour cream is not the worst thing you can be eating, it is not the best, either. If you are a sour cream lover who consumes it regularly, you might want to give some of these healthier alternatives a try:
Forager Project Organic Dairy-Free Sour Cream
This brand is crafted with organic cashew and coconut milk. It features that creamy and tangy taste of real sour cream, only better for you.
Not only is this brand gluten-free, but it is also soy-free and vegan-friendly.
These are the ingredients found in Forager Project Organic Dairy-Free sour cream:
- Coconut and cashew milk (filtered water, coconut cream, cashews)
- Tapioca starch
- Sea salt
- Pectin
- Distilled vinegar
- Lactic acid
- Locust bean gum
- Tricalcium phosphate
- Agar
- Live active cultures
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 2tbsp serving):
- Calories: 30
- Total fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 25mg
- Total carbs: 2g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Kite Hill Sour Cream
This almond milk sour cream is the dairy-free dollop you have been waiting for. Add it onto your tacos, baked potatoes, or even in your baked goods for a creamy texture. You will not even be able to tell that it is not real sour cream.
In addition to being dairy-free and vegan-friendly, this brand is also gluten-free, non-GMO, kosher and has no artificial preservatives. What could be better than that?
These are the ingredients found in Kite Hill sour cream:
- Almond milk (water, almonds)
- Coconut oil
- Rice starch
- Coconut milk
- Maltodextrin
- Chickpea protein
- Salt
- Cultures
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 2tbsp serving):
- Calories: 50
- Total fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 15mg
- Total carbs: 2g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 1g
The Dairy-Free Co. Dollop Lama Cashew Topping
This must-try brand features that tangy, creamy taste you all know and love in real sour cream without any of the bad stuff. In fact, it tastes so much like the real thing that you will not believe your taste buds.
In addition to being vegan, this brand is also gluten-free and non-GMO.
These are the ingredients found in The Dairy-Free Co. Dollop Lama Cashew Topping:
- Cashews
- Cultures (water, quinoa)
- Water
- Natural flavors (derived from oregano, flaxseed and plums)
- Sea salt
*All organic ingredients
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 2tbsp serving):
- Calories: 70
- Total fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 35mg
- Total carbs: 4g
- Total sugars: <1g
- Protein: 2g
Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free Sour Cream
This rich sour cream tastes just like the old fashioned favorite, only dairy-free, vegan, and soy-free. Use it to create delicious veggie and/or chip dips, add it to your burrito or quesadilla; no matter how you enjoy it, this brand is sure to be a crowd favorite.
These are the ingredients found in Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free Sour Cream:
- Filtered water
- Coconut cream
- Expeller-pressed high-oleic safflower oil
- Organic coconut oil
- Organic tapioca maltodextrin
- Less than 2% of: natural flavors, tapioca starch, pectin, glucono delta lactone, gellan gum, organic lemon juice concentrate, calcium phosphate, locust bean gum, lactic acid, calcium lactate, guar gum, sea salt, sodium alginate
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 2tbsp serving):
- Calories: 90
- Total fat: 9g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 25mg
- Total carbs: 2g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Final Thoughts
Sour cream is gluten-free and therefore safe for those with celiac disease or other gluten intolerances to consume.
Sour cream is most often used as a condiment and consumed in small portions, so it does not offer much of a nutritional benefit. It is, however, a good probiotic due to the fermentation process that it goes through. Probiotics are good for your overall gut health.
However, consuming too much sour cream on a regular basis can increase your risk of heart disease due to the high level of saturated fat. That is why it is important to try some of the healthier alternatives mentioned in this article, especially if you are someone who loves sour cream and enjoys it regularly.
Related Questions
Is Sour Cream Dairy-Free?
Regular sour cream is not dairy-free, as it contains milk and cream. However, there are a few different dairy-free sour cream alternatives available on the market for you to try. They taste so much like the real thing that you will think your taste buds are deceiving you.
Is Sour Cream Keto?
Yes, full fat sour cream is keto-friendly. It can be used in many different keto-friendly recipes to give it a tangy flavor and creamy texture. Full fat sour cream, however, does contain a decent amount of carbs, so make sure you account for them and limit your portion size if necessary.
Is Sour Cream Paleo?
That depends on how strict you are with your paleo diet. Those who follow a strict paleo diet tend to avoid dairy products like milk and cream. However, experts say sour cream is ok on the paleo diet because it is semi-healthy and is only consumed in moderation. So we will leave it up to you to decide.