Your Cereal Box Tops Have a Brilliant Not-So-Secret Feature Everyone Is Just Finding Out About

After opening a cereal box, how do you usually store it? While some people enjoy organizing their kitchen pantry with aesthetically pleasing airtight containers, most simply close the box using the tabs at the top. But what if there was a better way — a way that kept it better sealed and made your cereal last longer? Because, yes, there is a trick — and you don’t need a special container for it.

Here’s how the trick works: Fold down the small side tabs so they are inside the box. Then fold one of the long flaps so that it’s also inside the cereal box. Next, working with one of the short sides, pinch the corners to create a crease that goes towards the center of the box (not outside). Do this on the opposite short end so you have two creases. Finally, tuck the last long flap inside so it fits neatly in the fold.

While this trick works, it doesn’t completely seal the top of the box, which means it’s still important that you tightly roll up the bag of cereal to ensure that your cereal doesn’t get stale. However, it’s a more aesthetically pleasing option compared to the flappy tabs at the top that don’t always stay put — especially if you accidentally rip the slot when trying to open the box to start. 

Regardless, people are going wild over this nifty hack for keeping your cereal boxes sealed. Some cereal-lovers even admit they put their cereal in the fridge to keep it fresh, but say this new trick will save them from “eating cold cereal” in the future.

Others are also giving their own tips for storing their cereal, like placing it in airtight containers or transferring it to zip-top bags. However you decide to store your cereal, once you have an empty cereal box you can use it for clever kitchen storage.