Pantry Basics

[Molly53]

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A good basic selection of pantry basics might include the following items (you can certainly have more, but you can get along in most cases with these) If you're on a budget, many of them are available at the dollar store, although the true foodies might shudder:
Salt
Pepper
Garlic powder
Oregano
Rosemary
Parmesan cheese
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Sugar
Powdered Sugar
Brown Sugar
Vanilla Extract
Cocoa powder
Flour
Corn Meal
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Instant yeast packets
Vegetable or Corn Oil
Olive Oil
Crisco or other vegetable shortening
White vinegar
Cider vinegar
Rice
Noodles
Spaghetti noodles
Cream of Mushroom soup
Instant onion soup
Canned tomatoes
Spaghetti Sauce
Ketchup
Mustard
Mayonnaise
Saltine crackers
Graham Crackers
Baked Beans
Evaporated Milk

On hand, we try to keep (sometimes more successfully than others):
Milk
Eggs
Bacon
Cheese
Carrots
Celery
Onions
Potatoes
Lettuce
Apples
Fresh Garlic

In the freezer:
Green Beans
Broccoli Crowns (the other broccoli has too much of the woody stems)
Peas
Corn
Cool Whip
Pizza

A good knife is essential in the kitchen. Cheap knives are NOT a bargain. They won't hold an edge and won't cut straight. You should be able to get a really nice one that will hold an edge at www.acemart.com for under $35.



If you have other suggestions for basics, please feel free to add.

[kali's nana]

Also for the freezer, you might want to chop up celery, onions. I have on hand to, is strawberries, blueberries. Have rolled pie crust in freezer to as they come in hand for your pies and for making meaty pot pies for the family. I also use them for little bites with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled all over it and pop it in the oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

[PaulaG]

Chef 931683 wrote:
Also for the freezer, you might want to chop up celery, onions. I have on hand to, is strawberries, blueberries. Have rolled pie crust in freezer to as they come in hand for your pies and for making meaty pot pies for the family. I also use them for little bites with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled all over it and pop it in the oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

I always rolled the scrap pie crust, brushed with melted butter and then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. They were rolled up cut into "cinnamon roll" bites and bakes. My kids loved them when they were growing up.

[Auntie Jan]

I love this list...it has everything on it that every cook should have. I printed it off and put it on the fridge to keep track of what all I need.

Thanks for posting Molly!

[Ms. Mayhams]

I love this list and think that it is a great idea to have something like this around for "new" cooks.
I make a lot of my own mixes from the stuff that I have on hand so other stuff could be:
corn starch
beef and chicken bullion cubes or granules
chili powder
cumin
butter milk powder( if you are not a big buttermilk user)
Dry onion flakes
In all I try to keep a very well stocked spice rack with a lot of different spices for making home made mixes like
"Taco Bell Taco Seasoning Clone/Copycat" that I will make when I need for it only take a minute or two.
I also keep whole wheat flour and bread flour on hand for making homemade breads(when my oven is not broke)
I make my own spaghetti sauce and put in freezer. hope this help some others out with stocking there kitchens for cooking.

[Gloria 15x]

Kick in the dehydrator! I keep dehydrated onions, celery, bell peppers and carrots at all times. My cupboards are full so I put them in food saver bags and hide them wherever I can (on top of my cabinets). There is a small ledge so no one knows but me.