KEEP CEREAL FRESH WITH THESE EASY TIPS

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There is a lot to love about cereal.  First, there are endless varieties to suit anyone's taste.  And convenience? What could be easier than open the box, pour cereal into the bowl, get milk, pour milk into the bowl?  Eating cereal is also a great way to add healthy foods to your diet like dairy products, whole grains and fruit.  And with summer's heat and humidity, it's a great way to start the day!    Unfortunately, open boxes of cereal can go stale very quickly if not stored properly, costing you money and potentially creating food waste.  

WHAT CAUSES CEREAL TO GO STALE?

There are a number of factors such as the packaging, how it's stored and the weather.  Most cereal you buy is probably sealed in a bag which should protect it from humidity, the primary cause of stale cereal.  Ideally, try storing your cereal in a cool, dry location to maximize shelf life.  Unopened packages of cereal can be stored for months if stored optimally.  Once opened though, open cereal bags can go stale within days in the heat and humidity of summer if not stored properly. What can you do?

TRY THESE TIPS FOR KEEPING CEREAL FRESH:

• Try an airtight food safe cereal container, preferably with a pour spout or flip lid - airtight containers not only keep cereal crisp by protecting it from humidity, they also deter pests like ants which can be attracted to the sugar.  Containers can also solve the problem of the cereal bag torn too badly to seal.  A flip top lid makes it easy for small hands to pour just the amount of cereal they want.  We also recommend cereal containers where contents are visible for added convenience - it takes the guess work as to what's inside!
• A food grade food bag clip is another option - bag clips are perfect for storing foods in bags and they are invaluable where space is critical.  A quality bag clip will easily pay for itself by keeping bagged foods like cereal fresh longer.  Twixits are great because of their durability, variety of colors the offer and they can be labeled over and over again with an erasable marker.
• Another tip - once a cereal package is opened, seal it as quickly as possible to minimize exposure to humid air.
• Ever have this problem?  Someone opens a second box of the same kind of cereal because they didn't realize one was already opened?  To solve this, try organizing your cereal so that open boxes are the first options in the cupboard or pantry.
• So you have stale cereal, now what?  Try crisping it in the oven!  Spread the stale cereal on a pan and heat it at 375 to 400 degrees for about 5 minutes.  How long can vary by type of cereal and your oven so you might have to adjust cooking times accordingly.  Remove the cereal from the oven, let it cool and store in an airtight container.

Ever tried having a go at making your own cereal?  It's some of the freshest cereal you'll eat, it's quicker and easier to make than you think and a great way to customize your cereal to your family's tastes and dietary needs.  There are a number of good recipes on the internet to try.  Our favorite?  A granola with dried fruit and nuts!

How about you?  Have any comments?  We'd love to hear from you!  And if you like this article, please share it!