The Genius Reason TikTokers Are Putting Their Cereal In The Freezer

When it comes to food hacks, cereal seems to be a popular item for revamping among TikTokers. Step aside pancake cereal – frozen cereal is now the latest breakfast trend. This particular hack is solving a well-known dilemma when it comes to cereal. Cereal is a classic breakfast staple, but it can get soggy if it sits in milk for a while. If you're tired of mushy cereal, you might want to try putting it in the freezer; at least, that's what to do according to a viral TikTok hack.

The hack is so massive that one TikTok video (one that includes some R-rated language, FYI) demonstrating the hack has amassed 1.7 million likes. Freezing cereal is relatively easy — simply pour your favorite cereal into a bowl and place the bowl in the freezer for as little as a few hours to as long as overnight. Then, pull the bowl out of the freezer and add the milk of your choice to the bowl. Now you can enjoy a bowl of cereal without it getting soggy.

Placing a bowl of cereal in the freezer not only allows the cereal to retain its firmness and structure while submerged in milk — some TikTok users claim the cold heightens the flavor of the cereal. Furthermore, the hack seems like it works for just about any brand. One TikTok user who said they don't typically enjoy cereal tested out this hack by leaving a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the freezer overnight. In the video, they claimed the hack successfully elevated the cinnamon flavor.

"From now on I'm storing my cereal in the freezer, because this is too good," said the clearly impressed poster. 

@thekatcurtis

so @acebking was right – this is the best way to eat cereal 🤤 #frozencereal

♬ original sound – Kat Curtis

Another TikToker decided to put an entire box of Honey Nut Cheerios in the freezer, as opposed to just a bowl. After two hours, they poured freshly frozen Cheerios into a bowl with milk. According to the TikTok user, the Cheerios remained "crunchy" to the last bite.

While TikTok users have been having delicious fun with this frozen cereal hack, cereal shouldn't be placed in the freezer next to your tub of ice cream, or even in the fridge alongside produce for long-term storage. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends storing cereal at room temperature. Storing cereal in the freezer long-term can actually turn cereal soggy due to the moisture it'll absorb after a long period of time.

Soggy cereal isn't the only problem cereal eaters face. Apparently, breakfast food fans who really like to take their time have encountered an ongoing issue with milk getting warm over the duration of an extended cereal-eating session. Luckily, a TikTok user has a hack that ensures the milk in your bowl of cereal stays cool. In the video, the user suggested pouring milk into an ice cube tray to make milk ice cubes. Once frozen, you can add the milk ice cubes into your bowl of cereal and milk. "It doesn't dilute the milk," they said. "It's cold, it's refreshing; a good way to hack the heat in the summertime." 

If milk ice cubes sound unusual, consider that "The Last of Us" star Bella Ramsey routinely pours orange juice on her cereal instead of milk. They say it tastes great, and other folks seem to enjoy it as well. Maybe we should all pour orange juice in our cereal for at least one breakfast, just to see if we like it.