Pantry Staples
Having a well-stocked pantry is absolutely crucial for executing recipes and being able to whip up meals on a budget. Obviously, buying everything at once won’t be cheap, so if you like, get what you can to start building it up. No rush! Stick the basics. Get what you use often and if you are able to buy a lot of the items in bulk, that’s an even better option (hello, Costco or BJ’s memberships). Food pantries are also great resources that I often visited while I was in school full-time.
Want to treat yourself on some high-end goods? Visit local gourmet food stores and spice shops (that’s where I was able to find my haul in the photo above) and hit up their sale items. And once your pantry is fully stocked, you’ll find that being able to make a random meal with what you have on hand will happen in just a blink of an eye! No matter the situation, being prepared will help out in the long run: whether you’re on a tight budget, are navigating a busy school schedule, have family members to care for, or are simply taking care of yourself.
Here’s a rundown of my common pantry staples that I keep in constant rotation.
SALTS, SPICES, & HERBS
Salts: Diamond Crystal kosher salt, sea salt, and pink Himalayan salt
Peppers: whole Tellicherry peppercorns (for the pepper mill), crushed red pepper flakes, and cayenne pepper
Herbs: oregano, sage, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, Herbes de Provence, and whole bay leaves
Spices: cumin, coriander, curry powder, paprika, smoked paprika, turmeric, granulated garlic, and Goya Sazón con Achiote
Blends: Goya Adobo All-Purpose Seasoning with Pepper, Morton Nature’s Season, The Gourmet Collection Roast Vegetable and Fries, Savory Spice Shop Brooklyn Everything Bagel blend, Nori Komi furikake rice seasoning
OILS, VINEGARS, & SAUCES
Oils: olive, coconut, avocado, grapeseed, canola, vegetable, and toasted sesame
Vinegars: distilled white, red wine, balsamic, and apple cider
Soy sauce
Worcestershire Sauce
Mustard: Dijon and yellow
Duke’s mayonnaise
Ketchup
Peanut butter
Bouillons: chicken, beef, shrimp, vegetable, and mild golden curry
GRAINS & PASTAS
Rice: medium grain white, Jasmine, Basmati, and brown
Stoneground grits
Wheat farina
Rolled oats
Dry pasta
Couscous
Dry legumes: beans and lentils
Noodles: rice and instant varieties
Popcorn kernels
CANNED & JARRED GOODS
Tomatoes: crushed, whole, and paste
Canned beans: pinto, red, pink, garbanzo, black, cannellini, and kidney
Prepared pasta sauces: marinara, tomato and basil
Meats: tuna, salmon, sardines, anchovies, spam, and corned beef
Milk: evaporated, coconut, sweetened condensed, shelf-stable milks (like almond or soy)
Stocks: unsalted chicken, beef, and vegetable
BAKING GOODS
Flours: all-purpose, whole wheat, and rice
Cornmeal: harina (fine ground) and original
Cornstarch
Panko bread crumbs
Baking soda
Baking powder
Sweeteners: raw honey, maple syrup, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar
GOURMET ITEMS
These items are good splurge treats. Get whatever flavors and blends you like (when you can)!
Infused oils
Flavored vinegars
Smoked salt
Finishing salt (like Maldon and Jacobsen Salt Co. brands)
Custom blends: spices, sugars, herbs, and peppers
Seasonal jams and jellies
FREEZER & FRIDGE ESSENTIALS
Vegetables: sweet corn, greens (like chopped spinach or kale), broccoli, cauliflower, onions, green beans, and peas
Fruit: strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and bananas
Sauces and stocks: homemade sofrito, chicken stock, and veggie stock
Ground meats: beef, pork, chicken, or turkey
Chicken: whole bird, bone-in skin-on thighs, split breasts
Doughs: puff pastry sheets, pie shells
Snacks: frozen wontons, buttermilk waffles, and chicken taquitos
Butter: unsalted or plant-based
Milk: oat or almond, buttermilk (unused portion can easily be frozen)
Eggs
Click here to check out my tagged pantry staple recipes that use most of these items listed. By incorporating fresh and frozen/cold items to your pantry goods, you’ll be able to have plenty balanced meals often. Happy cooking!