# So about Porridge **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 5, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814 "2017-04-05T15:09:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![glennwith2ns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@glennwith2ns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glennwith2ns)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/1 "2017-04-05T15:09:42Z")
I think the only time I’ve seen or heard about porridge was in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. As far as I know I’ve never eaten it or been anywhere or been with anybody who has served it. I looked in our local supermarket and they don’t carry it. It seems like it is popular across the pond in England, Now I live in southeast PA and I’m wondering,is porridge a regional thing in the states? Or maybe I should get out more? thanks ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/2 "2017-04-05T15:15:32Z")
If you’ve ever eaten oatmeal, you’ve had oat porridge. [Porridge.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porridge) > [@](#): > > Porridge (also spelled porage, porrige, parritch) is a dish made by boiling ground, crushed, or chopped starchy plants – typically grain – in water or milk. It is often cooked or served with flavorings such as sugar, honey, etc. to make a sweet dish, or mixed with spices, vegetables, etc. to make a savoury dish. It is usually served hot in a bowl. > > The term is often used specifically for oat porridge (called oatmeal in the U.S. and parts of Canada), which is eaten for breakfast with salt, sugar, milk, cream, or butter, and sometimes other flavorings. Oat porridge is also sold in ready-made or partly cooked form as an instant breakfast. > > Other grains used for porridge include semolina, rice, wheat, barley, corn, triticale, and buckwheat. Many types of porridge have their own names, such as polenta, grits, and kasha. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/3 "2017-04-05T15:17:15Z")
Screw it; eat scrapple, instead. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/4 "2017-04-05T15:26:54Z")
Pease porridge is also heard in nursery rhymes and that’s just a thick pea soup, with ham or bacon added, just like most of the canned pea soups in supermarkets. Back in the cereal aisle, Cream of Wheat used to be a popular alternative to oatmeal, and that is also a type of porridge. It’s [still around](http://www.creamofwheat.com/_images/promotions/promo-3prods.png), and has been for a [century](http://historyapolis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/cream-of-wheat-advertisement-december-1921-nypl-needlcraft-magazine-record-ID-19187351.jpg). Yes, that’s a real ad. Almost all advertising featuring black characters was that racist. Check out [Aunt Jemima](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/58/9d/64/589d64b567eb6a341d65936db89450e0.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/5 "2017-04-05T15:38:46Z")
**Moderator Action** Moving thread from General Questions to Cafe Society, where Goldilocks can enjoy her porridge in just the right forum. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/6 "2017-04-05T15:38:59Z")
Had porridge for brekkie this morning (in Merrie Olde England, mind you) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/7 "2017-04-05T15:41:03Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Screw it; eat scrapple, instead. What have we done to you, that you should wish such horror upon us? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/8 "2017-04-05T15:55:34Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > What have we done to you, that you should wish such horror upon us? Oh, that’s cold. Or, too hot? ::Sigh:: Probably just right. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Sanchez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@Rick\_Sanchez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Sanchez)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/9 "2017-04-05T16:28:56Z")
Porridge is great. I have it with chopped up apples, raisins, blueberries, and just a dash of maple syrup. It’s healthy, easy, cheap, and it tastes great. It’s basically the perfect breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/10 "2017-04-05T16:36:53Z")
Here in England, I like porridge with milk and a little sugar. In Scotland it’s popular to have it with salt. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/11 "2017-04-05T16:40:07Z")
Depending on how you want to interpret the definition, porridge can also include farina (aka cream of wheat/rice), grits and even polenta. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/12 "2017-04-05T16:41:54Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Depending on how you want to interpret the definition, porridge can also include farina (aka cream of wheat/rice), grits and even polenta. Posts #2 and #4 do interpret it that way. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/13 "2017-04-05T16:53:39Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Screw it; eat scrapple, instead. I used to work at Quaker Oats, as the market research manager on Quaker Oatmeal. We were once in suburban Philadelphia, conducting focus groups with people who enjoyed oatmeal. In one of the groups, we had two very husky men, both of whom mentioned that they also enjoyed scrapple at breakfast. Not being from that area, we weren’t familiar with what scrapple was, and so, we asked them. One of the big guys grinned, and said, “it’s everything from the pig but the oink!” ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/14 "2017-04-05T17:10:44Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Pease porridge is also heard in nursery rhymes and that’s just a thick pea soup, with ham or bacon added, just like most of the canned pea soups in supermarkets. Ok so what nutter advocates eating pea soup that’s been sitting in the bloody pot for 9 days? ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/15 "2017-04-05T17:32:35Z")
The trouble with oatmeal is that the package directions call for seriously overcooking it, and no wonder kids hate it… Add the oats (never use instant) to boiling water, keep it on very high heat, and stir constantly until too thick to stir. Serve it al-dente with brown sugar and sour cream. The cooking water could have raisins plumped in it, with a good dose of spices like nuytmeg and cinnamon and cloves and allspice. It’s really good if cooked in apple juice instead of water. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/16 "2017-04-05T17:36:50Z")
> [@glee](#): > > …In Scotland it’s popular to have it with salt. :eek: Yep. And it’s good! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/17 "2017-04-05T17:43:53Z")
You may find it labeled something like “whole grain cereal.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/18 "2017-04-05T17:44:24Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > If you’ve ever eaten oatmeal, you’ve had oat porridge. It’s interesting that we (US-ians) don’t use the generic term. We say ‘oatmeal’ or ‘Cream of Wheat’ (brand name, rather than ‘farina’), ‘mush’ or ‘corn mush’, etc. Mrs. L.A. gets irritated at me for using specific names for things. But if I started saying ‘porridge’ instead of a specific _kind_ of porridge, she’d be irritated. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/19 "2017-04-05T18:15:15Z")
Oats are the food of the gods. There’s nought so grateful to the eye nor stomach as fine old parritch. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814/20 "2017-04-05T18:20:34Z")
We tend to call it “hot cereal” in the US these days. Oatmeal and Malt-o-Meal are both “porridge” as is any other grain boiled in water, like rice or barley or grits. Oh, [here’s a list](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_porridges). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-porridge/783814.md?page=2)