Cream of Wheat

What is Cream of Wheat?

Cream of Wheat is actually a brand name, not food in and of itself. It is a brand of farina, which is a semolina wheat porridge. Cream of Wheat is ground more finely than other farina, so it tends to be lighter and smoother. If you can’t find the Cream of Wheat brand or prefer using another farina, you can make this recipe with any farina. Just keep in mind the texture will be slightly different due to the coarser grind of other brands of farina.

Cream of Wheat was created during the late 1800s by a North Dakota flour mill to prevent bankruptcy after the Panic of 1893. The new product was a way to use the part of the wheat not necessary for producing flour. It quickly became popular; so much so, the company had to move to Minneapolis (a milling hub) to expand its operations and keep up with the demand.

What’s the Difference Between Cream of Wheat and Grits?

Cream of Wheat is made from ground wheat. Grits are made from a less sweet, yet starchy variety of corn, which has been coarsely ground corn (either white or yellow corn).