Stocking a pantry from scratch

Kitchen
Written By Sierra Waters

How to stock a pantry from scratch. My ultimate pantry list, where I share a few of my favorite go-to brands, essential grocery staples for easy everyday cooking, and tips for weekly meal planning. Here’s everything I can’t live without in my kitchen: ingredients I always try to have on hand to make just about any meal in no time.

One of my favorite staple desserts Einkorn Chocolate Chunk Cookies made with simple baking ingredients I always have on hand.

Stocking a pantry from scratch

There are so many ways you can categorize a pantry; here’s how I’ve done it based on how I like to cook. Everyone’s needs are slightly different. I’m still working on getting all of these, but as I was taking inventory in my head about what I use often these are the ingredients that came up. I also added a few of my favorite brands I enjoy. Most of this only needs to be bought once every few months, considering I’m only one person. So no more Costco. 

My favorite places to buy food

I mainly shop at my local co-op, Some things can get expensive, but for the most part, it's the best. I have peace of mind that they are supporting local businesses and the community in turn helping me do the same. In the summer and fall, I frequent the farmers market weekly for fresh veggies, herbs, and other treats. My goal this year is to try different ones around Minnesota and share my favorites. 

Creating a shopping schedule

It’s really easy for me to over-buy food when I don’t need it, so creating a schedule for shopping can be helpful. If you are more restrained than I am then this isn't an issue, but staying on a grocery budget while going from cooking for four people to one is more difficult than I thought.

My plan is for Saturdays to be farmers market days and Sundays to be co-op shopping days. The items I will be buying most often every week are fresh veggies and meat. With a stocked pantry of basics like beans, rice, pasta, etc, from there I can make pretty much anything. 

Benefits of Weekly Meal Planning

  • No more hunger-led shopping trips

  • Prevents food waste, from overbuying and in turn saves money.

  • Allows you to try new recipes more easily and add more variety

  • Reduces stress during mealtime

  • Helps you avoid less healthy meal options

  • Helps you plan leftovers

So why plan everything out? It saves money because you’re not overbuying things you don’t need but think you do, and it prevents food waste. I don’t know about you, but when I go into a grocery store, I completely forget everything I need, and I start shopping based on how hungry I am, which, in turn, spends more money. Going in with an already thought-out list prevents me from hunger craze shopping. I can plan out new recipes, and get inspired beforehand, and then I don’t have to spend an hour standing, staring at the fridge trying to figure out what to eat. It’s the mise en place of a home kitchen. I talk more about mise en place here in my useful cooking tips I learned in culinary school post.

A Note on Quality

If you love Foodnetwork as much as I do, you may remember Ina Garten's emphasis on good ingredients. Grab the highest quality ingredients you can afford; it makes a difference. Of course, the key is to know when to buy a higher quality item and where it counts most to make the most of your money. I spend a little more on things like mustard, oils, anchovies, and specialty condiments, but for items like salt and spices, it doesn't matter as long as they are fresh. The key to creating a great pantry isn't just the items but the quality, flavor, and freshness of each.

They don't have to be super expensive but must be chosen thoughtfully. Choose the ingredients that taste the freshest and deliver the best flavor and texture. There is a vast difference in ingredients like tuna and anchovies in texture, saltiness, and flavor. In this post, I'm sharing some of my favorite brands that I've found to be good quality, but I would spend a little time trying different brands to figure out what you like best. Even the ingredients you don't think about often that you use every day could have a simple swap out and dramatically improve your cooking. Salt is one of those ingredients you don't pay much attention to, but it is arguably the most essential ingredient when cooking. I really love using Diamond kosher crystal salt. Not only a chef's favorite, salts have different saltiness levels, and Diamond Kosher is great for everything.

All of this to say, I'm not just checking the list and buying whatever is at the grocery store before checking quality, freshness, and flavor to make sure I'm only adding items to my pantry that will serve me well.

My pantry staples are organized by category. Everything I can’t live without in my kitchen, ingredients I try to have on hand. I should probably remind you of I love list so prepare yourself.

 

Oils and Vinegars

Cans and Jars

Spices

  • Kosher salt

  • Sea salt

  • White Pepper

  • Red-pepper flakes

  • Cayenne

  • Curry powder

  • Bay leaves

  • Paprika

  • Cinnamon

  • Cumin

  • Garlic powder

  • Adobo Seasoning

  • Chili powder

  • Coriander seeds

  • Turmeric

  • Ground ginger

  • Za’atar

  • Allspice

  • Fennel seeds

  • Dry mustard

  • Nutmeg

Grains and Starches

  • Short grain rice (like Arborio Rice)

  • Basmati or Jasmine Rice

  • Farro

  • Pasta

  • Lentils

  • Panko Bread Crumbs

Nuts, Seeds and Nut butters

  • Peanut butter

  • Whole raw Almonds

  • Whole raw Walnuts

  • Whole Cashews

  • Hemp seeds

  • Flax seeds

Sweeteners

Preserves and Pickles

  • Jam

  • Pickles

Condiments and Sauces

Dairy

Staple Produce

  • Onions

  • Garlic

  • Lemons

What I keep in my Freezer

  • Homemade Chicken Stock (Make once a month with rotisserie chicken)

  • All Flours (Einkorn, All Purpose, and Bread flour)

  • Berries

  • Hemp Seeds

  • All Nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts, pistachios)

  • Whole Ginger

Baking

Next on the agenda is organizing the pantry, it definitely needs some work. What are your favorite go to staple brands and products you can’t live without in your pantry? Share below!

 

More Kitchen Tips Here

Sierra Waters
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