This Hack Keeps Flakes Fresh and Organizes Cereal Boxes in Your Pantry

Cereal is a breakfast staple in many households, but those cardboard boxes aren't ideal for long-term pantry storage. The flimsy cardboard flaps tear easily and never remain closed after opening. The result? An unappealing look and cereal that dries out way too fast. We have the hack for you if you're tired of ripped box tops and stale breakfast.

Using a simple fold-and-tuck method, you can secure box tops to organize cereal boxes in the pantry. This method also helps keep the contents fresher for longer. A video demonstrating the technique went viral on Facebook. "Had to share this!!! It's only taken me 40 years, but I now know the correct way to close a cereal box," the user, Becky Holden McGhee, writes. "It takes seconds—no more dried-up cereal and ugly torn boxes to greet me every morning."

Photo courtesy Jessica Bennett

To close a cereal box for better freshness:

1. Tuck both small side flaps and one long flap into the box.
2. Fold the two short sides of the box inward to create a "V" shape and pinch the sides together.
3. Slide the other long flap into the box, tucking it between the inner fold and the opposite side of the box.

The flaps should remain neatly inside the box, creating a tighter seal and a more orderly look.

Once folded, you can store the boxes lined up vertically or stacked horizontally. The tightly sealed top means you don't have to worry about releasing an avalanche of cornflakes all over your kitchen when storing the box on its side. Though repackaging your cereal is generally the best way to save space and keep it fresh, this is a nice substitute if you don't have extra storage containers.

Once you've mastered the folding technique on your cereal collection, try it on snack crackers, pancake mix, and other boxed pantry items. If it comes in a cardboard box, this technique can help you simplify pantry storage and seal in freshness.