Whether you're inviting guests over for a cocktail party or planning a nice meal at home, there's nothing quite like knowing how to stock the kitchen pantry. In order to avoid those panicky, last-second trips to the store, here are some essential ingredients to always have ready at a moment's notice!
Kitchen pantry necessities:
- Herbs and spices
- Goods in cans and jars
- Grains and pasta
- Oils and vinegar
- Baking supplies
- Condiments
- Cereals and mixes
Learn more about why the above essentials will save the day when preparing meals for your family.
1. Spice Things Up
What would life be without spices? Pretty dull, right? The same goes for your pantry. If you're going to whip up something delicious at a moment's notice, you'll need to have all the essentials. Some of the best herb and spice staples include:
- Basil
- Cinnamon
- Oregano
- Dill
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Cumin Powder
- Parsley
- Paprika
- Sage
- Rosemary
- A variety of salt
Ground herbs and spices typically don't last much longer than a year. If it's been a while since you stocked up on an herb, ground a bit in the palm of your hand. If it's no longer emitting a strong scent, toss it and buy fresh.
2. Canning Isn't Just for Settlers
Who doesn't enjoy fresh produce? Not only can you savor organically grown ingredients, but it's also a good idea to have some jarred and canned items for long-term storage. This will provide backup whenever you can't find something at the local farmer's market, and some canned items do just as well as fresh in a variety of dishes.
Your personal taste and cooking style will determine what you should keep in your pantry, but there are some canned ingredients every pantry should have. This includes canned tuna and chicken, soups (including broths), tomatoes, fruits, vegetables, peanut butter, and pickles.
3. Embrace The Carbs
Rice and pasta are must-have carbs for any self-respecting pantry. Easy to prepare and always popular, some additional basics include white and brown rice, spaghetti, fettuccini, angel hair, and elbow macaroni.
Have you noticed how many items are necessary for a properly stocked pantry? Don't be alarmed! You won't feel overwhelmed if you make the effort to organize your pantry as you stock it. Simple steps like storing similar items together and perfecting the ancient art of first-in-first-out will keep your pantry neat and manageable.
4. Oil and Vinegar
You can't have Italian food (or most anything else) without oil and vinegar. You can make a variety of marinades and salad dressings by storing olive, vegetable, and canola oils, as well as red, white, and balsamic vinegar. Don't forget about non-stick cooking spray! It counts as an oil, so put it on your list.
5. Fresh Baked Pie
Tired of friends and coworkers showing off their fancy cakes and cookies while you're buying pre-made from the grocery store? Now's your chance to create a pantry worthy of a master chef! A list of baking ingredients can be quite extensive, so here are a few of the essentials to get you started:
- White Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Confectioner's Sugar
- Baking Soda
- Baking Powder
- Corn Meal
- Corn Syrup
- Cornstarch
- Yeast
- Flour
- Vanilla Extract or Almond Extract
- Oatmeal
At the back of your mind, remember that your pantry is the prime target for greedy pests. Items that arrive in cans and jars will be impervious to these little stinkers, but bigger bags of things like flour and sugar are vulnerable. Darcy at The Purposeful Pantry recommends moving at-risk food into airtight plastic containers and mason jars.
6. Ketchup and More!
In this topsy-turvy world, condiments could mean any number of things. Generally, these are the items you’ll need for adding extra flavor after you’ve prepared a meal. This will include items that populate tables at restaurants like ketchup, mustard, mayo, and soy sauce. Other condiments you shouldn't do without include marinades, spaghetti sauce, Alfredo sauce, barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, honey, and salad dressings.
7. Cereals and Other Goodies
For all the time and effort filling your pantry with premium cooking and baking ingredients, perhaps the most popular items are still going to be cereals and snacks. Why fight it? Keep family and friends happy with cereal, chips, microwave popcorn, cereal bars, granola bars, and crackers.
You’ll also want to take advantage of various baking mixes, so don’t forget cake and brownie mix, as well as treats like macaroni and cheese, and muffin mix.
Conclusion
The pantry isn't merely a catch-all solution for homeless foodstuffs. It’s a valuable resource for cooking, baking, snacking, and entertaining. Putting together a list of staple items to stock your kitchen pantry in advance – and coming up with strategies to store them properly – will turn this vital part of your home from useless to can't do without!