Whether you have a big family, prefer a hearty backstock or are readying some emergency preparedness supplies, we’re sharing the top items to always have in your pantry in the hopes that will be helpful to you!
What you keep on hand will, of course, depend on how you cook and what your own personal dietary preferences and restrictions are — so please adjust accordingly! Here are our families’ staples:
Grains
Our grain staples are whole grain rice, pastas and oatmeal. You may prefer barley, quinoa, breadcrumbs, etc. All of these items have a good shelf life if stored properly, and we love that you can purchase many of these items in bulk.
Practically Perfect Tip = If you’re a bulk buyer, be sure to use airtight containers to preserve and ensure freshness.
Beans
Dried or canned, these are a must-have in our pantries. They can be added to salads, featured in pasta dishes, used as a side dish, combined to create patties… bean possibilities are endless!
Practically Perfect Tip = If you’re debating dried vs. canned, it’s truly up to you. But for what it’s worth, Devan from our organizing team has started buying dry beans in bulk and slow cooking in batches, and she reports that the flavor is much better than the canned varieties.
Soups + Broths
Soups usually have a long “best by” date and are great to open when nobody really feels like cooking. If you find yourself with a lot of produce that you need to consume before it goes bad, grab some broth and make it a soup night!
Practically Perfect Tip = If you’re low on storage space, consider bouillon cubes. Just add water and voila — you have broth!
Dried Fruits + Nuts
Dried fruit is so good that it’s almost like candy! And nuts? You’d be nuts to not keep them on hand (provided you aren’t allergic!)
Both offerings make oatmeal extra delicious and nutritious and are an added delight in any baked goods, meat or fish dishes.
When you’re craving a sweet or savory treat you can feel good about, a handful of these go a very long way. They’re an easy, healthy and unpackaged snack for kiddos to enjoy, as well.
Photo by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels
Oils + Sauces
These are real staples for cooking: olive oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, vinegar, tomato sauce… the list could go on.
But only buy ones that you’ll actually use! Unless you’re a professional chef, you probably don’t need 12 different types of oil.
Practically Perfect Tip: Store oils + sauces on a spin tray so that you can see what you actually have. These items tend to get lost in cabinets — and we want you to actually use them!
Jams + Butters + Sweeteners
Think jams, jellies, nut butters, honey, tahini… because your sandwiches, crackers and breakfast treats deserve delicious + nutritious schmears — and you deserve to enjoy every meal!
Baking Basics
All of you bakers out there know the basics: flour, sugar, salt, baking soda + powder, oils, vanilla, cocoa powder…
Depending on what you like to make, there are endless additional ingredients to add to this list. Whatever those are, just keep a backstock of your personal go-tos.
If you’re not a baker and don’t intend on becoming one, you don’t need to buy a 5 lb bag of flour! It will likely go bad before you get through a fraction of it.
Practically Perfect Tip = Buy what you’ll NEED and USE. That’s the rule for all shopping, always!
Herbs + Spices
These are the staples that really make your food tasty! Basil, chili powder, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, pepper, salt… of course, this list could go on.
Practically Perfect Tip = The great thing about these items is that you can also buy them in bulk. Instead of purchasing individual jars each time, consider stocking up a bit more by using your own containers.
Photo by Heather Mckean on Unsplash
Snacks + Treats
Don’t forget to keep some items that are good for snacking and treating yo’ self. It’s nice to have a stash of the kiddos’ favorite crackers and a little bit of chocolate for you, especially when things are feeling chaotic.
Practically Perfect Tip = Remember, these items don’t have as long of a shelf life as some previously-mentioned items, so stock up only within reason.
Cover image by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels
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