Smartbuns Hamburger Buns Review
Not long ago, I wrote a post about ways to use some commercial low-carb products that allow you to enjoy foods you may have thought were off-limits on keto. While talking about some rolls made by Chompie's Bakery as a great way to enjoy a burger, I mentioned that I had also ordered another product, intended for that exact purpose, but hadn't received it yet.
That product was Smartbuns Sesame Seed Hamburger Buns, from Smart Baking Company. I made the 
assumption in my previous post that these would have a spongy unpleasant texture you could only compensate for by warming them -- as seems to be the case with a lot of low-carb and zero-carb bread products. I was expecting that they'd arrive at zero net carbs in the same way, with the same textural result. But I'm happy to say I couldn't have been more wrong!
These buns are, by far, the most satisfying bread product I've had since I started my ketogenic journey over two years ago. That's a fairly long span of time to spend eating low-carb, over which I've tried my fair share of products, so believe me when I tell you that these stand out among the increasing crowd of keto items you'll find on store shelves.
For me, the shortcomings of many low-carb products are both taste and texture. It's not uncommon to find something that has good flavor, but a weird texture -- or vice versa. It is uncommon, however, to find a product that's truly enjoyable in both categories, but somehow Smart Baking Company nailed it.
I would describe the taste as exactly what you'd expect from a good wheat bun, or a quality wheat sandwich bread. It's a little bit nuttier than a bun made with white flour, with perhaps even a subtle, under-the-radar sweetness.
The texture though...this is what really makes it a game changing product, in my opinion. It's not spongy or weird. It doesn't immediately make you wonder what sort of ingredients they could have used to make it resemble a bread product. It just feels like bread! It's light and airy, with just the right density for a hamburger bun.
If I had to find something to pick on, maybe I could say it has more crumbs than your typical bun would, and perhaps is dryer -- although I feel that's the wrong word. It definitely doesn't have a dry mouth feel or make you reach for a beverage. Perhaps it's more accurate to say it's slightly crumbly, without being dry. At any rate, while you might call it a bit different from typical burger buns, there is absolutely nothing unpleasant about it.
Most of the time, the way I use these is with a takeout burger, which I order with no bun (or with a bun, which my dogs end up getting as a treat). I then transfer the ingredients over to my Smartbun that I've toasted with a little butter or avocado oil on a pan, and enjoy the full experience of a burger as it was meant to be eaten.
I alluded to it earlier, but let's make sure it's said clearly: this is a zero-net-carb product. It also happens to be gluten free, all-natural with no GMOs, and pack only 72 calories per bun. It seems almost too good to be true, but the proof is in the tasting!
The only real caveat to my glowing recommendation is that, like other low-carb and zero-carb products, these aren't cheap. I bought the 4-pack linked above, which was $40. Each package contained 6 buns, so the total quantity is 24, bringing the price per bun to $1.67. However, these are so good, in my opinion, that they're worth keeping in stock on a regular basis.
Finally, as with all posts where I mention and/or link to products, I have no affiliation with the manufacturer, Amazon, or anyone else. This is just my opinion, in hopes that it helps you, with no financial incentive for me to provide it.
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