What does every pantry need?

Question

I'm starting my own kitchen for the first time. What are the things I am going to need in my pantry.

Answer 1

What are some basic cooking ingredients that are good to have on hand in your kitchen at all times? Why not just ask us to name your first-born child? There are an awful lot of variables in your question, and we don’t know you that well.

But whether you’re a vegetarian, Muslim, busy mom, or newlywed, the goal is to have enough of the right ingredients on hand so that you can feed yourself (well) without running out to the store (or the fast-food joint) each time your stomach growls. As Rosemary Brown says, "A well-stocked pantry is one of the best keys I know to being able to prepare good meals in a hurry. Having plenty of ingredients tucked away in your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry will add hours to your week."

With that in mind, we looked through our own cupboards and turned to two books that offer advice on stocking a kitchen — The Kitchen Survival Guide (Canada, UK) by Laura Brody and Rosemary Brown’s Big Kitchen Instruction Book (Canada, UK). Brody’s book is for beginners, and includes 130 "hand-holding" recipes. Brown’s book is more comprehensive, in both its general information and the number and caliber of the recipes.

Some of these choices you can certainly live without; others you’ll have on hand at certain times and not at others. And many cooks will notice items missing from this list that they consider essential to life. All in all, we’d rather pick a name for your child. But the cumulative suggestions are as follows:

Baking & Spices

baking soda
baking powder
cornstarch
yeast
flour
salt
pepper
peppercorns
sugar
confectioner’s sugar
brown sugar
light corn syrup
vanilla extract
ground cinnamon
nutmeg
ground cloves
powdered ginger
basil
oregano
chili powder
dry mustard
paprika
thyme
tarragon
dill
bay leaves
poultry seasoning
beef, chicken & vegetable bouillon cubes
cream of tartar
unseasoned bread crumbs
Bisquick or pancake mix
powdered milk
unsweetened cocoa powder
unsweetened baking chocolate
chocolate chips



General & Condiments

rice
pasta
dried onion soup mix
tomato paste
tomato sauce
canned tomatoes
peanut butter
jelly
canned tuna
raisins
chocolate syrup
cereals
chicken or beef stock
canned soups
canned beans
olives
canned pears
canned peaches
applesauce
vegetable oil
olive oil
red wine vinegar
white wine vinegar
vegetable shortening
nonstick cooking spray
mayonnaise
ketchup
mustard
salad dressings
soy sauce
hot pepper sauce
Worcestershire sauce
barbecue sauce
salsa
honey
maple syrup
white wine
red wine



Refrigerator

milk
eggs
butter
cheese
yogurt
cottage cheese
cream cheese
sour cream
meats/fish
deli meats
bacon
juices
carrots
celery
lemon
mushroom
lettuce
peppers



Freezer

orange juice concentrate
corn
green beans
spinach
peas
mixed vegetables
ground beef
chicken breasts
shrimp
dinner rolls or bread
ice cream
pie crust
nuts



Fresh

oranges
apples
bananas
tomatoes
potatoes
garlic
onions
bread

Answer 2

Starting your own kitchen pantry can be expensive if you try to buy everything at once! Here are some suggestions to start with for basics, and then buy spices/ingredients as you need them.

Baking:
You need all-purpose flour, white sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.

Cooking:
You need vegetable oil, olive oil, kosher salt, table salt and pepper. An easy way to get the most common spices you need is to buy a spice rack and then add on from there.

Another tip: Buy spices in the international food section of the supermarket...they are cheaper and come in much larger portions, but they are the same spices you find in tiny containers for $5 or more in the spice section of the supermarket.

Answer 3

Flour, corn starch, sugar, salt, brown and white (wild too) rice, soup base, a wide selection of herbs and spices, cocoa, shortening, olive oil, baking powder, noodles or other pasta, potatoes. In short, the basic ingredients needed to make almost anything. Depending on your taste and abilities you can add all sorts of other things. Those are the most common things I use in everyday cooking. Don't forget storage. I use a lot of Ziploc bags for things.

Have you thought about tools? They can be more important than ingredients at times. A wide selection of bowls, wooden spoons, skillets, pots and they all need lids. Go to a restaurant supply for cooking tools. They cost about the same, aren't as fancy but last many times longer and are more functional.

I was a professional cook for some years and am now an amateur gourmet

Answer 4

This Better Homes and Gardens page (requires registration but it's free) has a great article with downloadable lists on stocking a pantry. It's been a great help to me.
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/pantryperils_03272002.xml&catref=cat320003

Answer 5

Green Tea Cereal-Lucky Charms or Count Chocula preferably and um, cake mix. BQ: I love green tea and cereal...and cake mix, just for fun, spontaneous cupcake baking!

Answer 6

Peanut Butter for when you haven't been to the store in a while, and mac and cheese. Its the universal side dish!

Answer 7

Pasta, rice, beans (canned or dry). You can always make something out of these three items. Good luck!

Answer 8

It doesn't matter what kinds of food you cook. You need salt and oil.

Answer 9

Soup, rice, canned food, sauces and syrups, and DEFINITELY some non stick spray.

Answer 10

start off with spices,dry beans,pasta,canned soup/vegetables/fruit.