The Pantry Staples, Which Items Should be on Hand

Hi Guys, after yesterday’s post on budget friendly meals, I realized that creating a Master Grocery List of the essentials might be a fun and practical post to create for everyone.  Acutally it was Jim who gave me the idea!!

Depending on where you live in the world, pantry staples may change slightly, but for the most part, having certain shelf stable essentials will get us through some challenging times.  These times don’t have to mean a health crisis or scare.  Maybe we are trying to stretch our pay cheques.  Maybe we are homebound during a weather emergency.  Perhaps we did just lose our job.  Maybe we are trying to make the best use of what is already stored in our cupboards, fridge and freezer.

We have only to shop the shelf stable aisles of our grocery stores to see that there are tons of options. What I’ll outline below are the ones that I count on to create meals on a pinch, that come together easily, but still have all the flavour I want a dish to have.  I’ve found that many dishes that make the most of the dried, canned and frozen veggies, are all the ethnic cuisines.  Indian, Mexican, Asian, Italian, all of them take some of the more frugal and humble ingredients to create powerfully flavourful and economically friendly dishes.  So when you are at a loss as to what to make with that can of beans, let Google or Pinterest or even this blog be your friend! I hope the suggestions below are useful to you.

I’m just going to say it, dried beans are great.  Yes, it does take a bit of planning to soak before use etc.  But as far as economy goes, it is definitely the wiser route.  But of course, canned beans are fabulous, handy, and immediate.

Have a variety of pasta on hand: spaghetti, egg noodles and macaroni will cover the basic recipes just fine.  Orzo is an additional one, as well as lasagna sheets. 

I am going to encourage you that if you pick up flours, or nuts and seeds, if you have room, store them in the freezer.  They will last much longer before going rancid.  Even if you keep some out in small jars in the cupboard for the week, store the rest in the freezer. The same goes for breadcrumbs.  If you have leftover bread that you know you won’t get to before it goes stale, whiz it up in the food processor for fresh breadcrumbs and store these in the freezer as well. 

Canned Goods: Beans; Fish like tuna, salmon, sardines; Coconut Milk or Cream, Crushed or chopped Tomatoes, Pineapple, Fruit Salad, even canned Pumpkin can turn into gnocchi or ravioli with some creativity.  Of course, canned soups can be a life saver as well.  Tomato Soup and a humble grilled cheese sandwich is always welcome over here.

Jarred Goods: Artichoke Hearts, Olives, Pickles, Mustards, Jams and Jellies (yes, the bit at the bottom of that jar can become part of your salad dressing!), Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Honey, Red Peppers, Nut Butters, Apple Sauce.  I’m going to add tamari or soy sauce, hot pepper sauce, red wine vinegar, olive oil and grapeseed oil to this section.  Grab mayo when on sale, it stores well unopened.

Dried Goods: Rice, Pasta, Farro, Quinoa, Beans and Peas, Lentils, Couscous, Popcorn, sealed-in-can Breadcrumbs, shelf stable or tetra pack Nut Milks, Dried Fruit such as raisins, prunes, cranberries, Nuts and Seeds, Flours, Sugar, Cornmeal, Rolled Oats, Oatmeal, Buckwheat or Kasha, Maple Syrup (when on sale). If you see Chocolate on sale, add it to the dried goods cupboard.

Dried Herbs and Spices: Yes, you know I love all the exotic spices and herbs that are available these days.  Many of my recipes showcase them or use them in fresh ways.  But don’t ever be intimidated by a recipe that calls for one that you don’t have.  There is usually an accessible replacement.  And for a basic cupboard, I am going to say, you really only need the ones that you use the most, for the style of cooking that your family loves.  Here is a basic list to start off as a foundation for you: Italian seasoning, curry powder, chilli powder, cayenne pepper, ginger, cinnamon, basil, thyme, paprika, oregano, cardamom, coriander, cumin.  Once you have these, then you can add ones as you see fit.

Frozen Goods: Blueberries, Strawberries, Veggie Medley, Perogies, Meat on sale that is then vacuum packed.  Flatbreads and grated cheese on sale can be added here as well.

Humble Veggies and Fruit: Celery, Onions, Garlic, Carrots, Potatoes, Squash, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Beets, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Peppers, Apples, Lemons.  If you have a root cellar or cantina, keep most of these there.  Carrots, squash, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers and apples should be stored in the crisper.  If you are in a condo like I am, I keep only what I can for a few weeks.  Or if the temperature is agreeable, I store on the balcony!  And as you start to see some getting past their prime, be proactive and freeze them in small pieces.  See below for tips on freezing.

See Making the Most of The Pantry Staples, Budget Friendly Recipes blog post for recipes using so many of these ingredients!

When it comes to Lemons, check out my Lemon Prep blog post for how to make the most of them and store them in the freezer etc.

When it comes to an inexpensive replacement for Chicken Stock, check out the Faux Chicken Bouillon Powder post.

If Butter is on sale, I grab a few bricks and prep it for freezing.  Then I am set for baking for months to come.  See here for my method.

If fruit or veg are on sale, why not consider freezing it?  Prep by cutting into bite sizes pieces, place them in a single layer on a parchment or wax paper lined baking sheet and freeze.  Once frozen, store it in a freezer bag.  This first step will make sure that the pieces don’t stick to each other in the freezer.

If you have purchased fruit, such as berries, bananas, stone fruit, and you see it getting past its prime, cut them into bite sized pieces and freeze as well, putting personal servings worth into small freezer bags. Now they are ready for smoothies.

If meat, especially ground or minced is on sale, have meatball prep days and freeze.  This is one of my favourite days of the week or month.  Check out these blog posts for some great meatball options: Classic Baked Meatballs, Swedish Meatballs, Moroccan Lamb Meatballs, Harira Soup with Lamb Meatballs or Lion’s Head Meatballs.

Seriously guys, with some planning and creativity, that can of tuna and artichoke hearts can become a great pasta dish!

For fresh shopping, I can be totally happy with eggs, milk, yogurt, cream, some cheddar cheese and parsley! I do make my bread at home, but if you get a big loaf, slice it up and freeze half right away.  This way even the bread will last longer.  Eggs really do make for a great protein.  As much as I adore every kind of cheese, cheddar alone, and maybe feta and parmesan, will get you through most recipes.  Save purchasing the fancy St Agur or Comte for another day!

Love Jen