Are you working towards a well-stocked pantry?

Spending time in the kitchen is so much more enjoyable if you have all the pantry staples you need at your fingertips. Making sure you have a well-stocked pantry will make whipping up a healthy meal for your family quick and easy.

The list of pantry staples I keep on hand are the essential ingredients that I most often use. Most of my items are relatively inexpensive and have a long shelf life.  My list of go-to recipes have changed over the years as my family’s likes and dislikes have changed, but this list has pretty much stayed the same.

Take a few minutes this week to take inventory of your pantry. Every couple of weeks I take 30 minutes to organize and tidy up my pantry shelves.  I make a mental note of what’s running low and what may need to be replaced. Once you build up your pantry staples, it will be easy to pull a meal together in no time.

Years ago, I found this pantry list in a magazine and cut it out and taped it to the inside of my pantry door.  I take it with me whenever we move and have re-typed it a number of times to add a few of my own personal additions.

Pantry Staples Inventory List

1. agave syrup
2. almond butter
3. almond extract
4. applesauce
5. Asian fish sauce
6. baking powder
7. baking soda
8. bbq sauce
9. beans: cannellini, navy, kidney, chickpeas or black
10. beef broth
11. black peppercorns
12. breadcrumbs: plain or panko
13. breakfast cereal
14. canned fruits
15. canned salmon
16. canned tuna fish
17. canned vegetables
18. cherries
19. chicken broth
20. chocolate (semi-sweet, dark, & cocoa)
21. clams
22. coffee (regular & decaf)
23. cornmeal
24. cornstarch
25. crackers – graham, saltine, club
26. cream of mushroom soup
27. cream of tartar
28. dried beans (various types)
29. dried fruits – raisins, dates, cranberries, apricots, cherries
30. flour – all-purpose, whole wheat, pastry
31. gelatin
32. grains: bulgur, quinoa, couscous
33. granulated garlic
34. grits
35. dried herbs – bay leaves, caraway seeds, rosemary, dill seed, basil, cilantro, oregano, sage, thyme, fennel seed
36. honey
37. horseradish
38. jelly, jam or preserves
39. ketchup
40. Kosher salt
41. maple syrup
42. marshmallows
43. mayonnaise
44. milk – evaporated, powdered buttermilk, sweetened condensed
45. molasses
46. mushrooms
47. mustard (regular & Dijon)
48. nuts – peanuts, pecans, walnuts
49. oatmeal – instant, old-fashioned, steel-cut
50. oil – extra virgin olive, coconut, vegetable
51. olives (green & black)
52. pasta – angel hair, egg noodles, fettuccine, lasagna, linguine, penne, spaghetti
53. peanut butter
54. pickles (sweet, dill & relish)
55. pork & beans
56. rice – brown, white, wild
57. roasted red peppers
58. salad dressing
59. salsa
60. salt (regular & sea)
61. seeds: sunflower, flax, chia, hemp, sesame
62. soy sauce or tamari
63. spice – Cajun, cayenne pepper, chili powder, coriander, cumin, curry powder, dried mustard, ground cardamom, ginger, ground mace, nutmeg, paprika, peppercorns, poppy seeds, red pepper flakes, turmeric, cinnamon (ground & whole sticks), cloves (ground & whole), allspice
64. sugar – brown, powdered, white
65. Tabasco or hot sauce
66. tea (various types)
67. Teriyaki sauce
68. tomato soup
69. tomatoes canned – paste, chopped, stewed, sauce whole
70. vanilla beans, extract
71. vegetable shortening
72. vegetables canned – hominy, corn, carrots, green beans, beets
73. vinegar – apple cider, balsamic, raspberry, red, white, rice
74. Worcestershire sauce
75. yeast (regular or instant)

Having a well-stocked pantry can make cooking a joy.  

My pantry staples list may not look like yours, but it is a good place for you to start and add those items that make your pantry yours.

Want more? Read on.