How do low-carb foods taste?(Close Up)

Our taste tests of 19 low-carb offerings found that some of them tasted reasonably good. Two products--both breads--were very good, while several others, including all three ice creams, were downright unappealing.

Each of the tested products had significantly fewer carbohydrates than a comparable regular version. But except for the beers, many of these foods had nearly or just as many calories, gram for gram, as the regular. The ice creams and breads had more calories than comparable low-fat or light versions. Moreover, the ice creams contained about as much or even more fat than the comparable nondiet version.

To lower carb counts, manufacturers replace sugar and starches with ingredients that have little or no effect on blood-sugar levels. In breads and pastas, for example, enriched white or wheat flour is replaced with soy flour, oat flour, and wheat gluten, all higher in protein and fiber. In beer, carbohydrates can be reduced by converting more of the sugars into alcohol and then diluting the brew with water.

 
Ratings low-carb foods 
 
Within categories, in order of overall quality. 
 
Product                                             Per Serving 
 
BREAD                                           Serving size      Cost 
 
VERY GOOD Slightly sweet with grain flavor and no off-notes; worked 
very well with toppings. 
Arnold Carb Counting Multi-Grain               1 slice (27 g)    $0.14 
Sara Lee Delightful Wheat Bakery               1 slice (23 g)     0.10 
 
GOOD Grain flavor, but some sour (Atkins) or bitter (Nature's Own) 
notes. CarbXtract was pleasantly nutty but dry and crumbly; the 
others were slightly spongy. 
Atkins Bakery Multi-Grain                      1 slice (28 g)     0.28 
CarbXtract Multi-Grain [1]                     1 slice (29 g)     0.41 
Nature's Own Healthline Wheat'n Fiber          1 slice (28 g)     0.10 
 
FAIR Spongy and rubbery, with off-flavors. Toppings might not help. 
Food For Life Low Carbohydrate The Original    1 slice (23 g)     0.22 
JoeBread Our Original Low Carb                 1 slice (21 g)     0.25 
 
BAGEL 
GOOD Mildly sweet with a toasted wheat flavor, but texture was more 
like a soft roll than a bagel. 
Thomas' Carb Counting 100% Whole Wheat        1/2 bagel (31 g)    0.24 
 
PASTA 
GOOD Grain flavor, but a bit crumbly, rubbery, and/or dry, pasta sauce 
may cover those defects. 
Keto Spaghetti                                2 oz. dry (56 g)    1.16 
Bella Vita Low Carb Pasta Penne Rigate        2 oz. Dry (56 g)    0.48 
CarbXtract Fettuccine [1]                     2 oz. dry (56 g)    2.31 
 
FAIR Defects such as dry, rubbery, or crumbly texture or starchy taste. 
Sauce may not help. 
Darielle Pasta Mezze Penne                    2 oz. dry (56 g)    0.50 
Atkins Quick Quisine Spaghetti                2 oz. dry (56 g)    0.92 
 
ICE CREAM (vanilla) 
FAIR Gummy, foamy, and/or overly icy, with imitation flavors or 
artificial sweetener impressions. 
Goldenbrook Farms LeCarb Frozen Dessert        1/2 cup (63 g)     0.98 
Atkins Endulge Super Premium Ice Cream         1/2 cup (70 g)     0.91 
Breyers Carb Smart Ice Cream                   1/2 cup (66 g)     0.33 
 
BEER 
GOOD Similar to a light domestic lager, but less intense and with a 
slight metallic aftertaste. Rolling Rock had a hollow, slightly 
off-flavor taste and was least impressive. 
Michelob Ultra                                   12 fl. oz.       0.83 
Miller Lite                                      12 fl. oz.       0.71 
Rolling Rock Rock Green Light                    12 fl. oz.       0.69 
 
Product                                           Per Serving 
 
                                                                 Total 
BREAD                                             Calories       carbs 
                                                                 (g) 
 
VERY GOOD Slightly sweet with grain flavor and no off-notes; worked 
very well with toppings toppings. 
Arnold Carb Counting Multi-Grain                     60            9 
Sara Lee Delightful Wheat Bakery                     45            9 
 
GOOD Grain flavor, but some sour (Atkins) or bitter (Nature's Ownwas 
pleasantly nutty but dry and crumbly; the others were slightly spongy. 
Atkins Bakery Multi-Grain                            70            7 
CarbXtract Multi-Grain [1]                           42            6 
Nature's Own Healthline Wheat'n Fiber                60            7 
 
FAIR Spongy and rubbery, with off-flavors. Toppings might not help. 
Food For Life Low Carbohydrate The Original          70            4 
JoeBread Our Original Low Carb                       49            4 
 
BAGEL 
GOOD Mildly sweet with a toasted wheat flavor, but texture was more 
like a soft roll than a bagel. 
Thomas' Carb Counting 100% Whole Wheat               70            11 
 
PASTA 
GOOD Grain flavor, but a bit crumbly, rubbery, and/or dry, pasta sauce 
may cover those defects. 
Keto Spaghetti                                      197            11 
Bella Vita Low Carb Pasta Penne Rigate              160            18 
CarbXtract Fettuccine [1]                           168            29 
 
FAIR Defects such as dry, rubbery, or crumbly texture or starchy taste. 
Sauce may not help. 
Darielle Pasta Mezze Penne                        ...