Do you know that while you may think both are porridge, there is a glaring difference between cream of wheat and grits? Let’s dig more into it.
Comparison Table: Cream of Wheat vs Grits
Criteria | Cream of Wheat | Grits |
---|---|---|
Composition | It is made up of ground wheat. | It is made up of ground corn. |
Texture | It is smooth and creamy in texture. | It is grainy and coarse in texture. |
Taste | t is sweet in taste. | Grit is salty in taste. |
Nutrition | Rich in iron and vitamins. | Rich in iron and calcium. |
Best time to eat | During breakfast. | Any time of the day. |
Origin | Originated in North Dakota in the year 1893. | Originated in the hands of native Americans. |
Toppings | Goes well with maple syrup, milk, cream, nuts, berries, etc. | Goes well with onions, tomato, salt, and pepper. |
Gluten | There is some presence of Gluten. | It is naturally gluten-free. |

Food forms a very important part of our life. It helps us to survive by providing us with the necessary nutrients that our body needs. Proper nutrition is essential for our strength and growth. Grains are one of the good sources of nutrition. Grains such as wheat, barley, corn, and rice are obtained from plants. It forms an essential part of our daily consumption.
From grains, we can obtain porridge. Porridge is a cereal breakfast that can be either sweet or salty depending on the individual’s preference. Two highly nutritional dishes that are made from porridge include the Cream of wheat and Grits.
While a Cream of wheat is made from wheat, Grit is made from ground corn. Many people like to start their days with a healthy bowl of porridge. It is a great way to give your body a boost of energy.
Some popular dishes that are preferred by people across the world are The Cream of Wheat and Grits. There’s a lot of difference between the Cream of Wheat and Grits.
The Cream of Wheat is made up of wheat and has a smooth texture. Its texture makes it perfect to make porridge. On the other hand, Grits are made from ground corn and have a grainy texture. It tastes the best when eaten with other foods like eggs.
About Cream of Wheat
Cream of wheat is formed from wheat semolina. Cream of wheat was manufactured in North Dakota by Grand Forks in 1893. The dominance of this dish can be felt in the North. This is a trademark product manufactured by a company. Cream of wheat is created by mixing Farina either in boiling water or milk. It needs to be stirred till it becomes thick. You can make it creamier by adding milk.
Cream of wheat has a lot of micronutrients and is low in calories. It is rich in fiber and has multiple vitamins such as thiamine, calcium, selenium, B6. It is a very good source of iron for vegetarians. It usually takes around ten to fifteen minutes to cook.
Apart from all the health benefits that this dish provides, there are some downsides too. Cream of wheat is not suitable for people who are intolerant to gluten. It is not a suitable dietary addition because of sodium. The presence of sodium is more than the prescribed amount.
About Grits
People around the world have been consuming grits for years. Another name for grits is polenta. Grits are made from ground corn. This dish was inspired by Native Americans during the 16th century. Grits is considered a dominant food in the southern parts of the United States.
It is considered to be the official food of Georgia. You can prepare this dish by mixing 4 parts of milk or water into one part of cornmeal. It needs to be cooked for 30 minutes. The texture of grits is usually rough or coarse in nature.
Grits have a pale yellow color and a grainy texture. It tastes best when served hot. You can add some toppings such as butter, salt, cheese, corn, tomatoes, onions, etc. Grits are said to be taken along with eggs.
Grits are a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It is full of fibers, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, etc. Presence of iron and vitamin B can be found in them. Packed with lutein and zeaxanthin, Grits are naturally gluten-free.
It usually takes around fifteen to twenty-five minutes to cook. One of the downsides of eating includes weight gain. Since it is usually served with foods rich in calories, you might gain excess weight. It also tends to lose all the nutrients when it goes through the processing stage.
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Cream of Wheat vs Grits
1) Material composition
Cream of Wheat consists of grounded wheat whereas Grit is made up of grounded corn.
2) Texture
Cream of Wheat has a smooth and creamy texture. On the other hand, grit has a grainy and coarse texture.
3) Taste
Cream of Wheat is sweet in taste. Grits are usually salty in taste.
4) Nutrition
Cream of Wheat is a good source of iron and vitamins. Grit is rich in iron and minerals like calcium.
5) Best time to eat
Cream of Wheat is mostly eaten for breakfast. Grits can be eaten at any time of the day.
6) Toppings
Cream of Wheat tastes the best with sweet toppings like maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, honey, etc. Grits usually taste best with onions, tomatoes, salt, pepper, and butter.
7) Gluten
For people who are allergic to gluten, Cream of Wheat is not a suitable meal. Grit is naturally gluten-free.
8) Origin
Cream of Wheat originated in North Dakota in the year 1893. Grits originated years ago in the hands of native Americans.
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Summary
Apart from all these differences, both of these dishes have certain similarities. Both are made from grains and are cooked using water or milk. Lastly, both are highly nutritious.
It is hard to say which dish is better. Both serve different purposes and taste different. Cream of wheat is said to be one of the most versatile meals while grits will give you the needed fiber. Both these dishes are made from porridge. These are filling meals that are widely consumed across the world. These are tasty meals that will keep you healthy and strong.
Naomi is an educator with 2 decades of experience working with children of all ages. She is a keen observer of the magic and importance of Maths in our daily lives. Follow me on Linkedin