Kitchen Pantry Necessities

Dry Goods

Easily the least expensive yet most versatile of all your kitchen ingredients, dry goods are often best bought in bulk and stored in bins to cut down on the amount of packaging. Since you will probably use most of these items many times, do not be afraid to buy them in large quantities, especially since the majority have a lengthy shelf life.

Keep your kitchen pantry stocked with the following dry goods:

• Flour: All-purpose, bread or whole wheat
• Rice: Brown, Long-Grain, or Jasmine Rice
• Sugar: White, Powdered, or Brown
• Dry Beans: Kidney, Black, Cannellini or Garbanzo
• Yeast
• Pasta
• Cornstarch
• Baking Powder
• Baking Soda
• Cornmeal
• Rolled Oats

Herbs and Spices

Nothing jazzes up your cooking like herbs and spices. These items can easily take your dishes to a whole new level, turning bland, boring food into delicious creations. Since spices typically have a long shelf life, you can also buy these items in bulk. Just make sure you store them in air-tight containers and away from direct sunlight and heat.

Not sure if your spices are still good? While herbs and spices do not have an exact expiration date, you can still check their potency by simply giving them a sniff. If you can no longer smell your spices, then you probably won't be able to taste them either. If that's the case, throw them out!

Clear some space for the following spices:

• Salt: Coarse kosher or fine sea salt
• Black pepper
• Crushed Red Pepper
• Cayenne Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Chili Powder
• Cinnamon
• Oregano
• Basil
• Thyme
• Paprika
• Vanilla Extract

Oils, Sauces, & Various Types of Vinegar

Essential for cooking and bringing life to your food, your pantry should be well-stocked with different oils, sauces, and vinegar. The Spruce Eats makes the case that the average consumer doesn't need dozens of different types of oils, but make sure you do have at least a few options available.

These items all have a long shelf life as well, so again, do not hurry about overbuying. You can also stick to the generic brand instead of opting for higher-priced products.

Check out some basic staples to keep close by below:

• Oils: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Canola or Vegetable, Coconut Oil, and Non-Stick Spray
• Vinegar: Balsamic, Apple Cider, Rice, and Red Wine
• Sauces:
• Worcestershire
• Soy
• Sriracha
• Hoisin

Please note that most sauces need refrigeration after opening.

Canned Goods

Stock up for the apocalypse! Canned goods are durable, long-lasting and very inexpensive. They are also perfect on a night when you are in a rush. Just try to stick to products that have the fewest additives.

Canned goods to keep in your pantry include:

• Beans: Pinto, Refried, Black and Baked
• Tomatoes: Diced, sauce, paste, and crushed
• Soup: Beef, Chicken and Vegetable
• Pasta Sauce
• Condensed Milk
• Coconut Milk
• Olives
• Pumpkin
• Broth

Nuts

Whether for snacking or cooking, nuts can go a long way in your pantry. Nuts are high in calories and protein, as well as flavor. Make sure you also stock up on plenty of nut butters, too.

Keep the following nuts in your pantry:

• Walnuts
• Roasted Peanuts
• Almonds
• Cashews
• Nut Butter: Peanut Butter (crunchy or smooth)

Sweeteners

While not the backbone of any dish, their job is to "sweeten" the flavors and add that something extra. Many of these items have a long shelf life, so keep plenty on hand.

Sweeten your pantry with:

• Honey
• Maple Syrup
• Corn Syrup
• Granulated Sugar

As Love & Olive Oil points out, honey never truly expires. If your honey crystallizes, you can simply microwave it for a couple of seconds to "bring it back to life!"

Condiments

The real "meat and potatoes" of any kitchen, you never want to run out of condiments. Many people love condiments, and everyone has their own favorite. Make sure to keep your pantry stocked with a variety of these items. You never know who might show up for dinner!

Keep the following condiments available in your pantry:

• Ketchup
• Mustard: Yellow and Dijon
• Mayonnaise
• Hot Sauce: Tabasco, Cholula and Frank's Red Hot

Please note that some of these condiments require refrigeration after opening.

Organizational Items

With all these essentials heading to your pantry, you will want to keep everything organized. Organize your pantry into different zones, use clear bins and label everything.

The use of clear bins is particularly helpful when it comes to storing your dry goods, such as flour, sugar and rice. Make sure your bins have an air-tight seal and opt for the stackable kind to make organizing them easier.

A spice rack is a great investment for keeping your spices and herbs organized. You can find many different types of racks in all shapes and sizes. Just pick the ones that best fit your pantry's layout.

Labels are another organizational item to consider using. When storing your sugar and flour in clear bins, it may be hard to tell which is which at a quick glance. Keeping those items labeled will help make finding the ingredient you need much easier.

Conclusion

Keeping a well-stocked pantry full of the essentials is not as hard as it may seem. If you break it down into different categories, such as dry goods, herbs and spices, and condiments, it'll make it much easier to do your shopping. However, before heading to the grocery store, make sure that you have a system for organizing everything in its proper place.

Sources

• https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2018/02/pantry-essentials.html
• https://www.thespruceeats.com/standard-kitchen-supplies-for-your-pantry-1808020