Are Pears Keto-Friendly?

Are Pears Keto-Friendly?

Pears aren’t keto-friendly because they contain 21 grams of net carbs, and 17 of those grams come from sugar. 

But, that doesn’t mean that you have to give up fruits altogether on keto. 

In this article, I’ll discuss why you should avoid pears on keto, and I’ll also discuss some low-carb alternatives to your favorite fruits.

How Many Carbs Are In Pears?

One medium pear contains 27 grams of total carbs. But, since 6 of those grams come from fiber, one pear has 22 grams of net carbs.

And, since most of these carbs come from sugar, they would spike your insulin even more than normal carbs.

In addition to that, the sugar in pears is mostly fructose, which can be alarming. 

This is because when you consume fructose, it immediately goes to the liver to get converted into fat through a process known as lipogenesis.

Photo by Mathilde Langevin on Unsplash

Are Pears Keto-Friendly?

Pears aren’t keto-friendly because they contain 21 grams of net carbs, and 17 of those grams come from sugar. But, that doesn’t mean that you have to completely avoid fruits altogether on keto since there are other low-carb alternatives. 

The only fruits that you can safely eat on keto are those with less than 10 grams of net carbs per cup. 

And, since a cup of pears contains 17 grams of net carbs, it should be avoided on keto.

But, there are still many fruits that you can enjoy on keto.

*Note: Some of these links are Amazon affiliate links which make me a commission if you buy from them.*

Keto-Friendly Fruit Alternatives

Instead of eating pears, try eating these keto-friendly fruits as a low-carb alternative:

  • Starfruit — 4 grams of net carbs per cup
  • Coconut — 5 grams of net carbs per cup
  • Blackberries — 6 grams of net carbs per cup
  • Raspberries — 7 grams of net carbs per cup
  • Raspberries — 7 grams of net carbs per cup
  • Blackberries — 7 grams of net carbs per cup

But, if you’re cooking and are looking specifically for a pear flavor, you can use this pear extract, which has zero carbs.

You can also just use stevia or monk fruit if you’re looking for the sweetness that pears provide.

Or, if you’re just looking for the refreshing taste of pears, you can buy pear-flavored sparkling water.

FAQ

Now, I’ll answer some of the most common questions that people on keto have about pears.

Image by FreeImages

Are Bartlett Pears Keto-Friendly?

Bartlett pears are not keto-friendly because one medium Bartlett pear contains 21 grams of net carbsmost of which come from sugar.

Are Asian Pears Keto-Friendly?

Asian pears are not keto-friendly because each fruit contains 19 grams of net carbs, and all of which come from sugar. 

This may seem pretty low, but the low net carb count can be deceiving since each Asian pear is pretty small.

Are Prickly Pears Keto-Friendly?

Prickly pears can be enjoyed on keto in moderation because they contain 6 grams of net carbs per fruit

Prickly pears are a type of cactus that can be found in desert areas around the world. 

They are known for their sweet, succulent flesh and can be eaten either raw or cooked.

Are Bosc Pears Keto-Friendly?

Bosc pears aren’t keto-friendly because one medium Bosc pear contains 23 grams of net carbs.

Photo by Sergey Zolkin on Unsplash

Are Red Pears Keto-Friendly?

Red pears are not keto-friendly because one medium Bartlett pear contains 19 grams of net carbs, and most of those carbs come from sugar.

Are Anjou Pears Keto-Friendly?

Anjou pears are not keto-friendly because one medium Anjou pear contains 26 grams of net carbsmost of which come from sugar.

Are Canned Pears Keto-Friendly?

Canned pears are not keto-friendly because they contain 47 grams of net carbs per cup of fruit

Although fresh pears are not keto-friendly, they are still better for you than canned pears. 

Most canned fruit comes inside of the juice of the fruit, or other syrups like high-fructose corn syrup, so they have more sugar than fresh fruit.

For that reason, they should be avoided on a ketogenic diet.

Is Pear Juice Keto-Friendly?

Pear juice is not keto-friendly because it contains 30 grams of net carbs per cup, most of which comes from sugar. 

Photo by Joanna Stołowicz on Unsplash

Are Pear Seeds Safe to Eat?

Pear seeds aren’t safe to eat because they contain the toxic compound amygdalin, which converts into cyanide in your body.

Conclusion

In conclusion, pears are not keto-friendly because they contain 21 grams of net carbs per fruit. 

Instead of eating pears, try eating low-carb fruits, like blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries.

And make sure to watch out for high-carb fruits, like bananas and apples, that are packed with sugar. 

If you want to find out how I lost 40 pounds with keto and OMAD, and the advice that I’d give to my past self, you can read my article here.

Hope this helped!