With rotating food shortages across the world, it can be hard to keep your pantry stocked. And as grocery prices skyrocket, it’s also hard to know what is worth getting. Here are some of the must-have pantry staples you should try to keep on hand.
Baking Supplies
Even if you aren’t into baking, there are a lot of baking staples used in cooking. Some of the most important baking items to have in your pantry include:
Flour
Flour isn’t just for cakes and cookies. You’ll also need it for making bread and creating pie crusts. Additionally, flour is an important ingredient in a roux, a common base for creams and sauces.
Sugar
Sugar is a sweetener, but it’s not just for desserts. It’s an important ingredient in tomato-based sauces because it cuts the acidity of the tomatoes and creates a more balanced sauce.
Other Baking Essentials
These are some other things you may want to consider stocking up on.
- Brown sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Vanilla extract
Canned and Jarred Items
It’s helpful to have plenty of canned and jarred items available.
Broth, Stock, or Bouillon Cubes
Broths and stocks are often key ingredients in many pasta and soup recipes. Stock and broth aren’t the same, but they can be swapped for one another in a pinch. These items aren’t expensive, but bouillon cubes are great if you’re on a budget so long as you don’t mind the sodium.
Canned or Jarred Sauces
Canned tomatoes make a great sauce base, and jarred pasta and marinara sauces are fantastic when you’re short on time.
“Cream Of” Soups
Creamed soups are often staples of casseroles or slow cooker dishes.
Other Soups and Canned Goods
Depending on your taste you may find it helpful to have these items on hand as well.
- Canned soup or packaged noodles
- Canned vegetables
- Beans
- Salsa
- Peanut butter
- Tuna
Dry Grains
Grains are a staple of many cuisines. Keeping them on hand helps ensure you’re never short of what you need.
Dry Pasta
It’s always helpful to have some sort of spaghetti or angel hair on hand, but you may want to stock other common types like fettucini, rotini, and penne.
Dry Rice
Rice is budget-friendly and endlessly versatile. You may want to keep both long-grain and quick-cooking rice on hand.
Additional Dry Grains
Other dry grains you may want to keep, depending on your diet, include:
- Quinoa
- Barley
- Oats
- Bulgar
- Farro
Condiments
Condiments are important to keep around both to top off meals and as ingredients. These are some of the most popular.
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Salad dressing
- Mayonnaise
- Soy sauce
- Barbeque sauce
Herbs and Spices
Your preferred herbs and spices may depend on your specific diet. Salt and pepper should stay in stock in your pantry, but you may also want to consider herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme, as well as spices like garlic powder, paprika, and chili powder.
Oils and Vinegar
Oils and vinegar are often essential for cooking. These are some of the best items to keep on hand.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Very common in cooking and for salads and dressings.
Cooking Spray
To prevent food from sticking to the pan.
Distilled White Vinegar
White vinegar is common in cooking and baking, and is an excellent cleaning agent.
Other Oils and Vinegar
You may want to consider keeping these other oils and vinegar as well.
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Frying oils
Final Thoughts
Your personal diet will affect which staples are most important to you. However, this list will give you a great place to start if you’re trying to stock up. Happy cooking!
