I'm leaving college in a few weeks and need to set up a household. Is there a list of suggested staples?

Question

I'm leaving college in a few weeks where we've been eating at the dining hall. I need to know if there are some basic staples and general spices that I can get once I move to my apartment to fill my pantry. I'm trying to put together a list and a budget for setting up my household, and any advice would be greatly appreciated. I don't have any pots or pans yet, but I do have a crockpot, so if anyone has any receipes that they'd like to share, I'd love to read them. Thanks, and have a great day!

Answer 1

cookbook - Buy the Betty Crocker Cookbook. It has a red and white checkerboard cover. (there's also a pink one - proceeds go to the Komen foundation.) This is THE BEST cookbook. My grandmothers all used it, my mother used it, and now I use it all the time. Mine is packed right now (i'm moving tommorow), but I'm pretty sure that it has a list of staples for a household. Another book to look at would be one for newlyweds. Even if you aren't getting married, these books are written for people who are leaving home for the first time, and should help alot.

Spices - buy a prefilled spice rack. Kmart, Kohls, target and walmart all have them.

A great idea would be to get an herb pot.

Staples:
Coffee
Tea
Cocoa
Salt, pepper
Sugar
flour
Baking Soda (Works great when you burn food on dishes)
Oil (Olive & Veggie)
Vinegar
Salad Dressings
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Parmesan Cheese
Baking Powder
Cocoa Powder

If some stuff seems wierd, I love to bake, but this list is just a suggestion. I am, however, a college student living off campus.

Answer 2

Once you do get into your apartment some good things to have are:

These I try to always have on hand for everyday cooking

Pantry Items

matches
toothpicks
soy sauce
salt and pepper
dried onions
garlic powder
cinnamon
vanilla extract

These I like to have in my other cupboard

cake mix and frosting
bisquick
pancake mix
cereal
granola bars
muffin mix
pasta

Canned Goods

Canned soups
Canned Veggies
Stewed Tomatoes
Canned tomato sauce
Spaghetti sauce
chili
beans
Hot cereal mix

Other items that are perishable:

Eggs
Milk
Bread
Mayo
BBQ sauce
cheese
lunchmeat
bacon
meats
fresh veggies
icecream


I think having a crockpot is the most wonderful tool. There isn't much you can't cook in one.

What is nice is you can throw in almost any kind of meat frozen or fresh and add some stewed tomatoes, canned tomato sauce, some water, spices, potatoes, canned veggies and put it on low in the morning and by night you have a great stew.

Chicken breasts with salsa or BBQ sauce. Can be paired up with pasta or rice. Can also add a can of cream of mushroom or chicken soup and makes a nice gravy.

Can make soups, chili, etc. Good luck.

Answer 3

if you just want the absolute basics go to the dollar store first......get some utensils (spoons, spatulas, etc.) there and also see if they have a food aisle (alot of them do and if so usually you can get spices 2 for $1) .....you of course need salt and pepper, garlic, oregano and basil (if you like italian food or you can substitute italian seasoning for both) some seasoned salt......probably some cinamon, you can always buy more stuff later. alot of times the dollar stores have silverware too...it will be like 4 forks for $1 then spoons, knives and so on...you can get a full sevice for 4 for $3 that way. look for towels and potholders etc there too.

after that i dont know where you live at....but look for like a dollar general , family dollar or something of that nature....you should be able to get a set of dishes and whatever towels and such you didnt get before there...dishes are usually about $10. usually you can get a package of baking pans that is like 1 cookie sheet, 1 9x13 pan, 2 round pans and a muffin pan either at one of those store or walmart target kmart..any value department store. if your on a tight budget look for the cheapest pans you can for now and buy better later....they are a little harder to clean but if you get the regular all stainless steel ones rather than the coated ones with the plastic handles you can also put them in the oven and they last longer....if you get coated you ahve to use plastic and rubber utensils only.
you can probably set up your whole kitchen for about $100-150 dollars for this stuff, then probably another $100 at the grocery store for stuff like flour sugar etc.

Answer 4

You should start with meals you like to eat, and hopefully cook. If you can't cook, your first purchase should be a cookbook. Go to a bookstore and check a few out, you want easy and quick recipes to get you started. Anything complicated may frustrate you until you get your feet wet. You can create your list of spices based on the recipes you would like to prepare.

The following things should be in most households, regardless of size:

A small set of pots and pans. You will probably not need a Dutch oven (a pot for soups and stews and spaghetti, etc.)until later, unless you plan to cook for more than one or two people. This set should Include 2 saucepans (small pots with handles)-- probably a 1 and 3 quart, and two skillets--and 8 and 10 inch should do. Get nice, heavy pieces, which will last a for many years. Cast iron will serve you well, but you have to hand dry it, and can't leave it sitting in water for long or it will rust. If you go with this option, you can get enameled cast iron which will make cleaning and maintenance easier.

You will need some bakeware as well. Silicone bakeware is easy to use, and easy to take care of. So is Pyrex ware or Anchor, which is microwaveable. Bakeware is available in silicone as well. One or two pieces should serve your purpose, even if you entertain another person or four. You will probably want a rectangle dish and a round one.

You will need utensils to cook and serve with. A standard packaged set will do. If the set does not come with a ladle, slotted spoon or spatulas, buy these separately. You should be able to find a set at a dollar store, if you don't mind shopping there.

You will need tableware: service for four. And perhaps a set of four glasses for tea, and a set of wine glasses for four if you plan to serve wine. Also Champagne flutes if you plan or serving champagne, but your wine glasses will work just as well. 1 set of wine glasses will work for red and white, if you don't want to buy two sets. Your drinking glasses can double as barware, if you plan to serve liquor, or you can purchase barware also.

You will need flatware--service for four should be sufficient. Also a set of steak knives (4 pieces), and a small set of kitchen knives.

Silicone pot holders are great, but take some getting used to.

Basic spices are salt, pepper, garlic powder (until you get the hang of fresh), minced onions (ditto), chili powder, perhaps some seasoned salt (various uses), boullion cubes--beef and chicken, basil, thyme, oregano, cinnamon. Vanilla.

Also flour & sugar.

And the items on the lists in the other answers you received.
Pick the things that suit, and keep the others on file in case a need arises, or you want to expand your larder.

Don't forget bread
Breakfast foods
Beverages
Bottled water (if you drink it)
Fruit and vegetables (fresh, canned, and frozen)
Pancake mix or frozen pancakes and waffles
Syrup
Milk (if you drink it)
Half and Half (for coffee)
And so on...

You will also need kitchen towels
Household cleaning items
Bathroom items
Flashlights (the non-battery type or okay, but can become tedious)
Candles (and candleholders):remember if you put a candle in front of a mirror, you will get a brighter light
Matches or a lighter
Batteries
Lightbulbs
Plunger
Scissors'
Sewing kit
Rubber gloves

You should also have some tools: nothing very expensive or fancy, because small problems crop up that you may be able to handle yourself. Flathead and a Phillips screwdrivers, pliers, and a hammer. This will do for starting out, and you can add more as you need them.

And there is more (that I can't think of at the moment)!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Happy homemaking!
Hope I helped!

Answer 5

This will really depend on the amount of cooking and baking you will be doing. Here is a list of what I would need if I was starting from scratch.

flour
granulated sugar, powdered sugar or Splenda
brown sugar
(all in airtight canisters)

vanilla
olive oil
vegetable or canola oil
parmesan cheese (for pizza and pasta)
maple syrup (for breakfast items and flavoring cornbread)
BBQ sauce
ketchup
I Can't Believe it's not Butter spray
PAM
salad dressing (I like T Marzetti's Buttermilk Ranch is it's good for dipping too)
whole eggs or Eggbeaters
Mayo
stick butter

salt
pepper
(if you want to be fancy, you can get kosher or sea salt and peppercorns for a pepper mill)
cinnamon
Lawry's Season salt
baking powder
baking soda (I buy two packages, one for baking, one to deodorize th fridge)
Chili powder (for tacos)
breadcrumbs (I like Italian) for breading on fried items

onion flakes or frozen, diced onions
garlic salt or whole garlic cloves

other basic items you might need to get started:
cookie sheet
9.5 x 13 inch cake pan
large skillet or wok
broiler pan or George Foreman Grill
variety of sizes of pots for cooking on stove top
large mixing bowls (metal ones are my favorite)
knife set for slicing and dicing
cutting boards (at least 2, one for meat and one for veggies)
measuring cup (get one that is at least 2 cup capacity)
can opener
spatulas (stirring kind and flipping kind)
tongs
large slotted spoon and non-slotted spoon
whisk
strainer/collander
trivets to place hot items on
oven mits
kitchen towels for cleaning up spills


fancier stuff that is nice to have but can wait until later:
egg slicer
cheese grater
food processor
griddle
rolling pin
salad spinner
pizza cutter
Silpat baking mats
zester
juicer
small funnel
potato peeler
muffin pan
corkscrew
fry daddy

Answer 6

Everyone has given you some great ideas on food. For basic supplies, if you can go to a $ store, get your utensils & such there. Spatulas, dippers,forks,can opener etc also go to the aisle wher they have little tools pickup a tape measure, small hammer, phillips & straight screwdriver, pair f pliers, hit the medicine aisle fo alcohol, peroxide, bandaides etc. They may not be ths years colors but yo are still looking at items that work and if they "walk" you aren't out a big amount. Good Luck!!!!!

Answer 7

When I got my first apartment, I owned 3 hefty bags of clothes, a 13" black & white TV and 1 crockpot......I went to the dollar general store & got a set of cookware, kitchen towels, potholders, can opener, mixer, dishes, silverware, papertowels, cleaning supplies, freezer bags & foil. I also got some basic spices such as pepper, salt, garlic powder, chili powder, onion salt, lemon pepper, oregano, soul food seasonin - and they were 2 for $1. Ketchup, mayo, steak sauce, mustard, pickle relish, sugar, coffee, tea, crackers & other snack items rounded out my list - I also spent less than $75 on everything......Once you start cooking, you know what other items you want to add to your basics

Answer 8

Congratulations on you new adventure and success in college.

The type of staples you need to purchase depends on what type of cook you are and what you like to eat. Bisquick is a good all purpose mix that you can use for all sorts of recipes and the recipes are on the box. Salt, pepper, and other spices which you may like. A bag of unbleached flour, sugar, some canned vegetables, tuna, if you like instant mashed potatoes (some brands are really good), rice (I prefer long grain and not instant). Oatmeal cereal - good for cookies and hot cereal in the morning. That's just a few things to get you started. Good luck with your new life.

Answer 9

I would suggest maybe recording what you eat in a week and count those things as your staples. It depends on what your diet and eating habits are, but when I first left the dorms my basics included: salt, ketchup, bread, milk, cereal, chicken, salsa & chips, butter, pizza, cheese, lunchmeat, water, soda, carrots, granola bars, yogurt, fruit, pasta & spaghetti sauce. No matter how much you plan in advance, you'll still end up forgetting something. I would suggest you check out any rummages in your area. I found a great set of pots and a number of essential kitchen utensils this way.

Answer 10

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