How to Recrisp Stale Cereal

Stale cereal loses it's crunch and feels soggy before milk is even added.

Most cereals have a fairly long shelf life and will last in your cupboard for weeks when properly stored. Cereal left in the open cereal box instead of an airtight container may become stale due to exposure to moisture in the air. Stale cereal that still has its original flavor can be used in baked good and snack mix recipes or you can recrisp your stale cereal and continue to eat it for breakfast.

Things You'll Need

• Cookie sheet
• Oven
• Oven mitts
• Airtight container

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour stale cereal onto a large cookie sheet. Spread the cereal out in a single layer so the oven's heat can circulate around the cereal.

2. Place the cookie sheet full of cereal in the preheated oven and allow it to dry out for three to four minutes. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven using oven mitts to protect your hands from the heat.

3. Allow the dried out cereal to cool completely on the cookie sheets. Err on the side of caution and allow the cereal to cool longer than you think is necessary. Cereal that is still hot will quickly become stale again in an airtight container.

4. Pour the dried-out cereal into an airtight container. Seal the lid tightly and store in your cupboard until the next use.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your cereal in an airtight container to keep it fresh and so you don't attract pests, such as insects or rodents, to your pantry with open containers of food.

• This method of recrisping cereal can also be used for crackers, chips and other crisp snacks.

• Stale cereal that contains chocolate chips or any other ingredient that will melt in the oven is not a good candidate for re-crisping in the oven.

References

• Purdue University: Family and Consumer Sciences: Spotlight on Cupboard Storage: How to Crisp Foods
• Ohio State University: Cupboard Storage: How to Crisp Foods