Food Pantry Basics

Basic bottled and jarred foods make up a well-stocked pantry.

For successful meal planning a home cook needs fresh ingredients as well as jarred, canned and bottled items that are regularly stocked in the pantry. Pantry items are those ingredients that you always have in your kitchen so you can just grab a spoonful of this or a dash of that to add to your recipes. Pantry basics include spices, oils and vinegars, baking items, canned goods, condiments and dried grains.

Spices and Herbs

Since jarred spices and dried herbs have a long shelf life and you generally only use a small amount at a time, it is convenient to keep commonly used spices on hand at all times. For North American-style home cooking you should stock your pantry with both coarse and table salt, black pepper, red pepper, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, chili powder, cumin, oregano, bay leaves, dill, thyme and paprika. Tweak your spice inventory according to your cooking preferences by adding curry powder, turmeric, anise or other spices that you use regularly.

Grains and Pastas

Throwing together a mid-week meal is easier if you already have basic grain staples in your pantry. Stock your pantry with white and brown rice, different styles of dried pasta and egg noodles, dried beans and couscous. Also keep crackers, dried bread crumbs and cereals on hand. Since people consume these items in larger quantities than spices or condiments, be sure to restock your grains and pasta on a regular basis.

Bottled and Canned Goods

Condiments, oils and basic canned goods are all part of a well-stocked pantry. Ensure that your pantry contains basic oils and vinegars like olive oil, canola oil, balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, red wine vinegar or any others that you commonly use in cooking or salads. Essential canned goods include canned tomatoes, tuna, beans and chickpeas, olives, soups and chicken stock. Also store regularly used condiments like ketchup, yellow mustard, dijon mustard, curry paste, peanut butter, salsa, pickles and soy sauce, moving them to the fridge after opening, if necessary.

Baking Items

Like spices, many dried baking items can be stored for long periods of time, so it's a good idea to keep them on hand even if you only bake periodically. Fill your pantry with all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, corn meal, white sugar, brown sugar, confectioner's sugar, cocoa powder, nuts, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, yeast, chocolate, honey, rolled oats and vanilla extract. If you have all of these items you will only need to add butter to make most basic baked goods.

References

• Jamie Oliver: Cupboard Essentials
• What's Cooking America: Pantry Essentials
• Woman's Day: Essential Items to Stock in Your Pantry