Kitchen Pantry Necessities

Pasta and Dried Goods

Who doesn’t love a spaghetti dinner? Keeping different kinds of pasta on hand means you always have a meal that only takes a few minutes to prepare. Pasta also stays fresh for long periods of time.  Once opened, Martha Stewart recommends storing it inside airtight containers.

Treat dried goods, such as nuts, seeds, beans, and fruit the same way. These items make great healthy snacks and can be kept fresh for quite a while. Once opened, store them in airtight containers. You can also take it one step further & label each container.

Here are examples of pasta and dried goods you'll want to include in your pantry:

• All kinds of pasta, including those that are gluten-free
• Dried fruit, depending on what you like
• Dried beans, such as black-eyed peas, pinto beans, navy beans, and black beans
• Seeds, including chia, sunflower, and millet
• Nuts, such as almonds, peanuts, cashews, walnuts, & pecans

Canned Goods

What kitchen pantry would be complete without a variety of canned goods on hand? If you lose power and can’t cook because of bad weather or just a simple power outage, you will always have food that is ready to eat.

Plus, you can find a variety of canned items, ranging from fruits to veggies to meat. Remember to keep a handheld opener in your kitchen just in case an electric one is unavailable. In terms of storage, organize them according to type and size and remember to face the labels toward the front of the cabinets. You'll easily be able to find what you want at a glance.

Not sure where to start with stocking up on canned goods? Try this list to get started:

• Canned veggies, such as green beans, corn, & black-eyed peas
• Canned beans, including great northern beans, pinto beans, navy beans, garbanzo beans, and black beans
• Canned meats, such as chicken and tuna
• Broths, including chicken, beef, and vegetable
• Soups of all kinds, like tomato, chicken noodle, vegetable, and cream of mushroom

Baking Supplies

Sometimes, you want a sweet treat that you made yourself. Having some baking supplies in your pantry will make it easy to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies in no time. Like other pantry necessities, baking supplies are shelf-steady items, meaning they don’t need refrigeration for storage.

Flours, baking powder, and baking soda can all be stored in their original containers. Once opened, flour needs to be placed inside an airtight container to retain its freshness. According to Food Network, you want to have more than just flour on hand.

 Lots of recipes call for ingredients such as condensed milk, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and even cream of tartar. Don’t forget baking cups, parchment paper, wax paper, & foil. Ready to go shopping? Start here with gathering baking supplies:

• Flour, including all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, gluten-free flour, and almond flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Oatmeal and oat flour
• Chocolate chips and cocoa powder
• Baking cups, parchment paper, and foil
• Yeast for making homemade bread
• Instant yeast for whipping up a quick pizza crust

Sugars, Spices, and Herbs

A tasty meal is only as good as the spices used. Keep a variety of sugars, spices, and herbs in your pantry. For baking, you may need different kinds of sugar, including white sugar, brown sugar, and confectioner’s sugar. Some recipes call for molasses or honey, too.

These items are simple to store and organize. Just keep them in a cool, dry place inside an airtight container, and you’re all set! Molasses and honey can be stored in their original jars.  Just be sure to wipe any sweet residue off the sides and bottoms before placing them back in the cabinet.

Spices and herbs don’t take up a lot of space and can be stored in their original jars. You can find all kinds of herbs and spices at the store, including ethnic spices. Keeping a few common spices and herbs in your pantry will ensure all of your meals are delicious.

Here’s what to pick up at the store:

• Spices, such as ground ginger, celery seeds, ground cardamom, onion powder, garlic powder, ground sage, ground thyme, and ground turmeric
• Herbs, including dried basil, oregano, thyme, marjoram, and dill
• Ready-made spice mixes, such as taco seasoning mix, grill seasoning mix, and curry mix
• Sugars, including white and brown sugar, confectioner’s sugar, molasses, honey, and agave

Condiments, Oils, and Vinegar

If you like to grill, then you understand how important it is to have certain condiments close by. Think about what kinds of items you like to grill and what sauces complement them the best. These items can be stored in your pantry until they are opened. Once opened, transfer them to the refrigerator.

Here are the primary condiments to place on your shopping list:

• Mustard
• Mayo
• Ketchup
• BBQ sauce
• Steak sauce
• Soy sauce
• Teriyaki sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• Hoisin sauce
• Salad dressings

Cooking without high-quality oils is impossible. Oils add flavor and help prevent food from sticking to your favorite pans. You don’t have to refrigerate oils either, just keep them on hand in your pantry. Consider investing in the following staples:

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Vegetable oil
• Crisco
• Sunflower oil
• Sesame oil

Lots of recipes call for different kinds of vinegar to add some punch to a dish. Whether you like to make your own salad dressing or want to add new flavors to the mix, be sure to buy these standard types of vinegar on your next trip to the store:

• White wine vinegar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Red wine vinegar
• Balsamic vinegar
• Rice vinegar

Snacks

When a snack attack happens, you don’t want to be left with a hankering that can’t be satisfied. Snacks you can keep in your pantry range from chips and cookies to crackers, mixed nuts, and more. These items don’t need to be kept cold or frozen, and they last a long time on the shelf. Once opened, keeping them stored in airtight containers will help them retain their freshness longer. Plus, they'll be protected from nasty pests.

Here are a couple of examples of snack-based necessities:

• Crackers
• Chips
• Cookies
• Mixed nuts
• Popcorn kernels or bags
• Pretzels
• Granola bars
• Peanut butter, almond butter, and cashew butter

Conclusion

Having a well-stocked pantry will keep you from running out of your favorite items and ensure that there is always something tasty to eat! You won’t be rushing home to cook a meal when you know you can have a delicious, healthy one ready in a matter of minutes. Be sure to note the kitchen pantry essentials listed above, and enjoy more organized mealtimes and less time running out for forgotten ingredients!

Sources

• https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/packages/cooking-from-the-pantry/pantry-essentials-checklist
• https://www.marthastewart.com/1112123/your-grocery-list-perfect-pantry-and-how-keep-it-perpetually-stocked