Water With Cereal – Is There A Reason To Try It?

Cereal with milk is a classic breakfast item enjoyed by people of all ages. It even works as a great snack or light dinner for when you don’t have time to prepare anything elaborate.

If you’re not a fan of milk, you can enjoy your favorite cereal with yogurt, ice cream, or several dairy-free alternatives. But what about water? We’re sure your first reaction to that is “What?!”

Well, cereal with water certainly is a thing and it might or might not be your cup of tea (or water). You’d be surprised to find out how many people actually prefer it over milk and how it has become a big topic of discussion online.

So, should you have water with cereal and is there a reason to try it? Although cereal is meant to be eaten with milk, no rule dictates it is the only way. Having it with water means a significant change in its taste and texture and it all comes down to your preference.

Read on to find out how cereal tastes in water vs milk, what popular cereals would likely taste best in water, other options you may try instead of milk, and much more!

Can You Eat Cereal With Water?

The pairing of milk and cereal dates back to the late 19^th century with the introduction of Granula, a breakfast cereal predecessor.

Due to it being extremely dry, Granula’s inventor suggested it be paired with either milk or water. From there on, milk simply stuck and the rest is history.

Breakfast cereals such as cornflakes, muesli, oats, rice cereal, wheat flakes, bran cereal, and granola (the immediate successor to Granula) are all still dry and need something to soften them.

While milk is often the liquid of choice to pair with your dry cereal, you can enjoy it with water if you want to. There is no hard or fast rule and it is perfectly fine for you to do so, although some people might not agree.

You need to, however, keep in mind that using water instead of milk will lead to drastic changes in the taste and texture of your cereal.

That being said, there are people out there who actually prefer having their cereal with water. As strange as it sounds, it is true.

After all, we’ve seen worse combinations out there, haven’t we? We’re looking at you peanut butter and pickles.

How Does Cereal In Water Taste Like?

Since milk contains proteins and fats, it provides a delicious, creamy, and sweet flavor to your morning cereal. If you replace it with water, your cereal is going to taste very different from what you are used to.

Since water has a neutral taste, all it will provide you with is hydration and make your cereal soft and soggy, as compared to the smooth and creamy flavor that milk offers.

Your cereal may become mushier much faster with water than if you were using milk, and it could be a good thing if that’s what you want.

According to some people, water allows the flavor of the cereal to shine through as compared to eating it with milk that, at times, overpowers the cereal’s unique taste.

Certain cereals are a better choice than others when paired with water, while some simply work best with milk.

If you have bland cornflakes, oat flakes, or Weetabix, you might be a bit disappointed pairing them with water since they are going to taste very boring and bland, unless you find ways to add flavor to the mix.

If you do not want to add anything extra, you may opt for more flavorful cereals, such as the sweet and fruity ones, and pairing them with water might not seem like the worst idea.

All in all, it comes down to your personal preference whether or not you prefer pairing your cereal with water.

For some, even the idea of cereal with water is an abomination, whereas others are more open to trying out this weird, yet highly popular combination.

While milk is the most conventional option, who’s to say that you wouldn’t like your favorite cereal with water? Therefore, maybe you should give it a try and decide for yourself about which side you’re on!

Milk Substitutes For Cereal

With the milk and water debate out of the way, let’s look at some of the best substitutes you may want to try as an alternative to dairy milk.

There are lots of reasons why you might want to look into other options, whether it is a personal preference, a dietary restriction, or simply because you are out of milk.

Some people like to keep it simple and substitute milk with water, and as simple as that may sound, it is not the most appetizing thought for many.

Here are some of the best milk substitutes for cereal:

Plant And Nut-Based Milk

Plant and nut-based milk such as soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, rice milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, and hemp milk are all great substitutes to use instead of cow milk.

They are enriched with essential nutrients and provide the same creamy texture as cow milk while offering a unique flavor depending on where the milk is sourced from.

For a thicker texture, we suggest opting for coconut or cashew milk, and if you’re looking for a nuttier flavor, almond milk should do the trick.

Powdered Milk

One of the most basic substitutes for regular milk, powdered milk is a lifesaver when you are out of milk and need it for something such as tea, coffee, or cereal.

All you have to do is mix it in some water and it will provide the same flavor and texture as regular cow milk, although it may be a tad bit sweeter even if you use the unsweetened variety.

Yogurt

If you want to try something completely different and ditch the idea of milk and water altogether, you may try pairing your cereal with yogurt instead.

Yogurt is packed with essential nutrients and probiotics and will help keep you fuller for longer. It is available in a variety of flavors and you have the option to choose your favorite one depending on the type of cereal.

Just go ahead and try some sweetened vanilla flavored yogurt with cornflakes and some fresh fruit and be pleasantly surprised with how good it tastes!

Other Ways To Enjoy Cereal

Other than mixing cereal with water, milk, or milk substitutes, there are plenty of ways to enjoy your Cheerios, Frosted Flakes, Cap’n Crunch, Lucky Charms, and Rice Krispies.

One of the simplest ways of enjoying cereal without any form of liquid is to enjoy it on its own. That’s right! Although it will be dry, it will also be crunchy, sweet, and super fun to munch on, just like chips and crackers.

If you like oatmeal, you can take it up on a notch by sprinkling some of your favorite cereal into the mix for added flavor and texture. Depending on your preference, you can use almost any type of cereal.

Alternatively, you can try adding it to your morning smoothie for a fun flavor, texture, and consistency.

Simply add some cereal into the blender when making your smoothie or make a smoothie and pour it on some dry cereal in a bowl.

Cereal also works as a wonderful topping for desserts such as ice creams, cakes, cupcakes, and pancakes.

Sweet and sugary cereals such as the fruity and chocolaty variety work best for this purpose and you may have the choose the best one according to your recipe and the flavors you are going for.

Most unsweetened cereals, such as plain cornflakes, work as a great substitute for bread crumbs, especially when making fried chicken, so there’s another way you can use cereal.

Cereal First Or Liquid?

Moving past the milk vs water debate, let’s tackle the real question here: what should you put in the bowl first—milk (or any other liquid) or cereal?

Although the answer to this is very simple with a pretty straightforward explanation, you will still come across people arguing over what should go in first.

So, cereal first or liquid? The cereal should always go first. Regardless of the type of liquid you are using, the cereal should always go in first followed by your choice of liquid.

Similar to salads and salad dressings, it makes sense to put in the solids first and then pour the liquid ingredients on top.

The reason for this is that you can see how much liquid you’ll need for the cereal and pour out an adequate amount so that all of the cereal is submerged in the liquid. If you feel like there isn’t enough cereal, you can always add it later on.

If you pour the milk first, the cereal would likely float on the top, unless you stir it with a spoon, and you may end up with more milk leftover at the end of your meal.

Related Questions

Now that you know what cereal tastes like with water and whether you should try it, here are a few additional questions we thought you might have:

Why does cereal get soggy in milk or water?

The reason that cereal gets soggy in milk or water is due to a process called diffusion.

What this means is that the density of the liquid and cereal don’t cooperate with one another causing the faster-moving atoms in the milk to overtake and absorb the slower-moving atoms in the cereal.

Much like our skin absorbs water in a bath, the cereal absorbs the milk or water and creates a soggy mess if left in it for long.

How do you store cereal to keep it fresher for longer?

When storing cereal, you need to make sure you keep it in a way that it maintains its crunch and doesn’t go stale over time.

Since air, moisture, and humidity are your enemies when it comes to cereal, and basically any type of food, the best place to store it is in a cool, dry, and dark place in an airtight container.

You can leave the cereal in your pantry if the air in your house is dry, otherwise, the fridge is a good option for areas that are more humid.

An unopened box of cereal will stay fresh for several months; however, once you’ve opened it, it will no longer be the case.

If the cereal will be consumed within a week, you can simply roll down the plastic bag, clip it, and put it back in the cereal box. As an added precaution, you can stuff the empty space at the top of the plastic bag to keep the air out.

If you want to keep the opened cereal for a few months, these methods won’t work and you will have to transfer it into an airtight container to keep the air and pantry pests out.

Can you store cereal in the fridge?

Yes, you can store cereal in the fridge, but whether or not you should do it depends on the environment you live in.

It is a good option if you live in a humid environment since the cereal can absorb moisture and turn soggy, or if pantry pests will be a problem. 

If you have whole-grain cereal it might be a good idea to store them in the refrigerator since they contain more natural fats that can go rancid quicker at room temperature.

When keeping cereal in the fridge, always make sure to transfer it into an airtight container (such as these ones) or you may risk it absorbing smells and moisture from other foods in the fridge.

Can you freeze cereal?

Freezing cereal may cause most types to turn soggy, which is why it isn’t the best storage technique for it.

To be sure, you can do a freeze test and freeze a small amount of cereal and see how it turns out after a couple of days. If you are satisfied with the outcome, you can safely freeze more. Otherwise, it is best to look at other options.

Also, plain cereals will freeze much better than cereals with fruit since they contain less moisture. 

Some people like to freeze their cereal just before they eat it by freezing a portion for about half an hour before adding in the milk.

This way, the cereal is really cold, which in turn makes the milk stay colder for longer and doesn’t let the cereal get soggy as quickly as it normally would.

Does cereal go bad?

Cereal doesn’t usually go moldy or become unsafe to eat, unless it gets wet, in which case you should look out for signs of mold and discard it immediately.

It does, however, go stale due to exposure to oxygen and moisture. When this happens, it won’t be as crunchy as before and will not taste as good.

Also, since dried foods are the perfect breeding ground for pests, throw out the cereal if you see any insects crawling inside the bag or container.

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