Whether you have kids at home or you want to cook more at home, the best thing you can do is start stocking up on ingredients. It can be really frustrating to realize you’re out of ingredients when you’re already cooking. While you may not need every ingredient from day one, having a well stocked pantry is still important. Let us introduce you to some pantry staples that are great to start with.
Staple Dry Goods for Well Stocked Pantry
The first set of pantry staples is your dry goods. Even if you are aiming for vegan pantry staples, these items would be handy for everyday cooking and baking.
One of the best things about dry goods is that most of them can be purchased in bulk. We all know that when you buy in bulk, you save a lot of money.
You can even get them in bins in your grocery store to save even more. If you know how to stock a pantry for a year, you can calculate how much to buy.
Here are some dry goods to keep in your pantry for cooking and baking. And if you’re looking for gluten free pantry staples, you can find gluten free versions of all these staples:
- Pasta
- Rice
- Beans
- Lentils
- Oats
- Sugar (depending on your choice)
- Flour (depending on your choice)
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
Essential Spices for Pantry
Next up, you definitely need a well stocked pantry filled with your favorite seasonings, herbs, and spices. Although, it is okay to stock up gradually on your spices.
Herbs and spices are also vegetarian pantry staples. Dried herbs and seasonings won’t last forever, and it sometimes takes a while to get through them, so it’s one thing you might not want to buy all at once until you know you like them and use them often.
Go for the essential spices for pantry and the ones you use the most. Start with the basic seasonings you know you will use often.
Start with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, and more. For dried herbs, you can start with oregano, basil, bay leaf, cumin, thyme, and others.
Basic Liquid Staples
If you love making cheap pantry meals, never forget your liquid kitchen staples. There are also some pantry and refrigerator items that are liquids, but are just as important as your dry goods.
Can you guess what they are? Start stocking up on different types of oils, like avocado, olive, and vegetable oil. Make sure you have non-stick oil spray as well.
Here are other liquids to purchase:
- Soy sauce
- Vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Hot sauce
- Honey
- Vanilla extract
- Condiments
Staples in Your Fridge
Of course, you need to know how to use up the food in your pantry, especially when you’re planning on stocking up on the following refrigerated staples.
Refrigerated staples include:
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Milk or plant-based milk
- Butter
- Eggs
Takeaway
It’s satisfying to see a well stocked pantry and fridge, and as you begin cooking more often, you will become familiar with items you use often and should probably stock up on.
These are good basics to start with and might even inspire you to make home-cooked meals. Enjoy!