17 Kitchen Pantry Necessities

If you had to make dinner relying on the ingredients and supplies in your kitchen pantry, could you do it? If not, it’s time to restock your pantry. Before you head to the store, you’ll want to put a list together of everything needed to make sure your pantry contains essential items. 

Pantry staples are the essential ingredients most recipes require, such as sugar, flour, oils, seasonings, and condiments.  Other staples, including pasta, rice, and canned goods, can be quick and easy-to-make meals or side dishes.

Having a well-organized and well-stocked pantry saves you time and money. You won’t have to order takeout or rush to the grocery store to get the one item you don’t have for your favorite recipe. You’ll also be ready for last-minute dinner guests or a spur-of-the-moment craving for homemade chocolate chip cookies. Plus, home-cooked meals are healthier as you can control the ingredients. 

Read on for a list of all the necessities that should be in your kitchen pantry. However, as the Food Network points out, your ideal pantry list may vary depending on your family’s tastes and diet.

Before you head to the store to fill your pantry, here are some things to keep in mind:



• Take inventory and compile a shopping list to ensure you get everything you need. You don’t want to buy something you forgot you already have.
• Food in the pantry doesn’t require refrigeration and has a long shelf life.
• Purchase enough food for two weeks—however, some nonperishable items last several months or longer. 
• Only buy items you know your family will eat. There is no sense wasting precious pantry space if you will end up throwing the food out.
• When you restock your pantry, put older items in front.

Most recipes call for oil as an ingredient or as the base for frying.  Oils possess different smoke points, so keep several types in your pantry. With a low smoke point, olive oils are ideal for baking and sauteing.  On the other hand, vegetable, peanut, and canola oils possess a high smoke point and are optimal for roasting or frying. Nonstick cooking spray is nice to have on hand to grease baking pans.

Vinegar is very versatile - you can use it as a salad dressing, marinade, or sauce. Types of vinegar to have on hand include red-wine, white and balsamic.

Whether you use it as a side dish or as part of your main meal, rice is a must-have staple. It lasts a long time and is relatively inexpensive. Brown rice is a healthy option. Other kinds of rice to consider include basmati, risotto, white, long-grain, and jasmine.

When you have nothing else planned, pasta makes for a quick and easy meal. There are dozens of types with spaghetti, penne, fettuccine, lasagna, orzo, and couscous, being some of the more common varieties. MarthaStewart.com shares a comprehensive guide to further understanding the different types & shapes of pasta.

According to Healthline, beans and lentils are some of the most nutritious foods you can eat as they contain plenty of protein, fiber, iron, and healthy carbohydrates. Use beans and lentils as an ingredient in chilis, soups, and salads or as a side dish. Because they stay fresh in the pantry for a long time, stock up on the various types, including red lentils, green lentils, white beans, pinto beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, or black beans.

All-purpose flour milled from hard and soft flour is a versatile ingredient required for baking, thickening sauces, and breading chicken or fish.

Salt is a flavor enhancer that saves you from eating bland food. Table salt is the least expensive and most common type of salt. However, you may prefer to substitute it with sea salt or kosher salt.

Pick from whole peeled tomatoes, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, or tomato sauce. Use any type as a base for sauces, soups, stews, and chilis.

Potatoes are versatile vegetables - they can be eaten cooked or raw and can be fried, roasted, mashed, etc. They come in many different varieties, with sweet, Yukon Gold, Russet, and fingerling being the most popular. Potatoes do not require refrigeration, and most types remain fresh for months (sweet potatoes have less starch and only last up to two or three weeks). The Wirecutter explains that the refrigerator converts the starch in potatoes to sugar, which causes potatoes to brown quicker. You should store potatoes in a cool, dark room away from humidity. Keep them in an open paper bag, cardboard box, or basket.

Whether you choose Vidalia, red, Spanish, or another variety, onions can be eaten and prepared in a variety of different ways. They have a long shelf life and can last several weeks if stored in a cool, dark space with no humidity. Place whole, unpeeled onions in ventilated or open containers such as an open paper bag, a wire basket, or a mesh bag. If the humidity is too high or there is not enough ventilation, onions will rot and mold. If you put unpeeled onions in the refrigerator, they will absorb too much moisture and spoil quickly. Also, do not store onions and potatoes near each other. Potatoes emit ethylene gas, which can speed up the onion’s ripening process.

Nuts are a healthy snack and also supplement salads and baked goods. Some of the different types of nuts you can choose from include almonds, cashews, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts.

Leaving food in its original packaging is an open invitation for bugs, as noted in Six Ways to Evict Kitchen Pantry Pests. Instead, store certain items such as cereals, grains, flour, pasta, and sugar in sealed, airtight glass or plastic containers to keep them organized and away from pests.

Seasoning makes any dish flavorful. Here are a few essential herbs and spices to add some zest to your meals: black pepper, curry powder, and red pepper flakes.

Soy sauce is not only a flavor enhancer but can also be used in marinades and as a meat tenderizer. For a healthier choice, try low-sodium soy sauce.

As the name indicates, baking soda is a baking essential but has many other uses. Leave an open box in your pantry to keep it smelling fresh. You can also use baking soda as a cleanser by mixing it with water. The best thing about baking soda is that even after it expires, it’s still good to use for up to a year.

Honey, maple syrup, and granulated sugar are essential. You may also want brown sugar and confectioners sugar in your pantry too, especially if you bake. Honey never spoils and is perfect for sweetening food and drinks.

In addition to topping food like burgers and sandwiches, condiments assist in making marinades and sauces. The main condiments you’ll want in your pantry are ketchup, mustard (yellow, dijon, spicy), barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, salsa, and salad dressing. It’s always a good idea to check the expiration dates on condiments before using them. If an item smells or looks funny, throw it away. Keep in mind, most condiments need to be refrigerated after opening.

Having the right ingredients, sauces, and condiments in your pantry will make your life much easier—no borrowing sugar from a neighbor or rushing to the store. While this is not an exhaustive list, use this article as a guide to ensure your pantry has all the necessities you need to make a meal, snack, or dessert.

• https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/packages/cooking-from-the-pantry/pantry-essentials-checklist
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/healthy-staples#7.-Healthy-fats-for-cooking 
• https://www.marthastewart.com/7570142/pasta-shapes-illustrated-guide
• https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/keep-your-produce-fresh/#a-visual-guide