Wikipedia Article About Steel-cut oats on Wikipedia Porridge (also known in American English as hot cereal or mush), is a simple dish made by boiling oats (normally crushed oats, occasionally oatmeal) or another meal in water, milk or both. Oat and semolina porridge are by far the most popular varieties. Some other meals used for porridge include rice, wheat, peasemeal, barley, and cornmeal.