Is Smoked Salmon Keto? A Guide & Recipes

Is smoked salmon low-carb and keto-friendly? How many carbs are in smoked salmon? Get these answers and delicious low-carb and keto-friendly smoked salmon recipes!

Cold smoked salmon on a plate with a lemon wedge on the side.

Is Smoked Salmon Keto-Friendly?

Smoked salmon is keto-friendly since it's typically very low in carbs, roughly zero to 1 net carb per serving. Some brands of smoke salmon include sugar in the brining process, which can add a few carbs. When purchasing, we recommend checking the ingredients and selecting brands that don't include sugar or use very little of it.

How Many Carbs are Typically in Smoked Salmon?

Most brands of smoked salmon have between zero to one carb (net and total) per serving.

TYPES OF SMOKED SALMON

There are two types of smoked salmon you can buy:

1. Hot Smoked Salmon

Hot smoked salmon is wet brined salmon that is smoked at a higher temperature (120 degrees F or more) until the salmon cooks through and becomes flaky. Often times, hot smoked salmon is brined in and rubbed with salt, sugar and other seasonings. When purchasing, we recommend checking the ingredients and selecting brands that don't include sugar (or use very little).

2. Cold Smoked Salmon

Cold smoked salmon, on the other hand, is salt cured and then smoked at a lower temperature (80 degrees F or lower). At this temperature, the smoke cures the fish rather than cooks it, so it is more silky and firm in texture and is considered raw. Often times, sugar and seasonings are added during the curing process for flavor. When purchasing, we recommend checking the ingredients and selecting brands that don't include sugar (or use very little).

What to Consider When Buying Smoked Salmon

Ingredients: During the brining process, salmon is usually seasoned with salt (for preservation measures) and sometimes sugar. Sugar is not needed but it is sometimes added along with other seasonings for flavor. When buying smoked salmon, always look at the ingredients to see what is included. We recommend buying smoked salmon that doesn't include sugar or uses very little of it.
Wild Caught Versus Farm Raised: You can buy smoked salmon that is wild-caught or farm-raised. We recommend purchasing wild-caught salmon since it's nutritionally better for you and is higher in protein.
Hot or Cold Smoked Salmon: Since hot smoked salmon is smoked at a higher temperature, it is cooked through. Alternatively, since cold smoked salmon is smoked at a much lower temperature, it is considered raw and not recommend for pregnant women or those with a compromised immune system. However, cold smoking preserves the healthy nutrients of the salmon, whereas hot smoking can cook the nutrients out.