# What is Gruel?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-gruel/205693>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 5, 2003, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-gruel/205693 "2003-10-05T09:45:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-gruel/205693/1 "2003-10-05T09:45:39Z")

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While looking for “what is porridge” I thought of this. BTW what is Porridge? I saw some sites say it is made from Oats, sometimes Oatmeal. So oats are not oatmeal?

I’m confused?

What about Mush?

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**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-gruel/205693/2 "2003-10-05T09:50:24Z")

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[http://www.mrbreakfast.com/ask.asp?askid=10](http://www.mrbreakfast.com/ask.asp?askid=10)

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-gruel/205693/3 "2003-10-05T09:55:24Z")

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Gruel is flour and water.

It’s as tasty and as nutritious as it sounds.

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**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:** [October 5, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-gruel/205693/4 "2003-10-05T15:01:03Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> BTW what is Porridge?

“A soft food made by boiling oatmeal or another meal in water or milk.”

So porridge can be your morning oatmeal or Cream of Wheat.

P-Orridge was in Throbbing Gristle.