It is best to always keep food in your pantry for emergency. Pantry foods are a staple in most modern day kitchens. In case you’re wondering whether or not you are fully stocked, here is a list to make sure that you have the most useful and versatile items. This way you can always cook up a storm right under your roof at a moment’s notice.
It’s no secret that these last few weeks have been testing every single one of us which is why I wanted to talk about necessary pantry items you need to have in your pantry at all times.
If I’m being 100% honest, how I came up with this article idea is a bit of an embarrassment. I was in the kitchen looking to whip up a quick meal together when all a sudden, I noticed that my pantry was in dire shape. I have since made sure to fix the problems and stock up.
Here are the top items that might be useful for you to also have in your pantry. This will make you feel much more safe and a bit more ready to tackle emergencies and uncertainty.
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All purpose Flour
A classic that is not going out of style anytime soon. All purpose flour deserves an honorary spot in your pantry. You can do so many things with it, such as cookies, tortillas, bread, fresh pasta, pizza and so much more…
2. Rice
Rice has been a staple in most cultures around the world for centuries. It is a very cost effective way to stretch your meals and you can get so creative with them. Rice can be served with veggies, meat and poultry, and pretty much whatever you can think of.
3. Oats
There is nothing as easy as oats. They make for a very quick and healthy oatmeal breakfast and also quick desserts. You can also pop them in the oven to make some quick granola.
4.Pasta
When it comes to pasta, there are so many options that it can quickly get a bit overwhelming. There are so many varieties you can purchase and quite a few different recipes to be made. Have you fill of different sizes of spaghetti, penne, gnocchi, etc. You can make lasagna, fettuccine, linguine, tagliatelle. Have fun and don’t forget to go crazy with the different sauces.
5.Tuna
Tuna is great as it conserves very well and is a very healthy and lean protein source. This is a no brainer if you’re watching your weight.
6. Other Tinned fish/ Seafood
Similar to Tuna, there are so many types of prepackaged fish to keep in the pantry. Sardines, salmon, anchovies, mussels and oysters all come in tinned packages. They can be found in oil, water or tomato sauce to name a few. Add in pasta or anything else your mind can come up with.
7. Sugar
Yes keeping sugar in the pantry sounds like a no brainer. But these days, many people choose to forgo sugar as they are looking to eat as healthy as possible. Still, having sugar in the pantry can be a lifesaver. It comes in handy when baking and sometimes even the most healthy recipes might call for a teaspoon of sugar to bring up some flavor.
8. Tomato can paste
I don’t know what I’d do without tomato sauce. This is one item I pretty much could not live without. It is so handy for those pasta dishes. They preserve better than raw tomato. Also tomato paste can be added not only in pasta sauces but also in stew, meat, rice and so much more.
9. Canned fruits
I won’t lie. Nothing will ever replace fresh raw fruits. But sometimes, fruits can be out of season and just plain unavailable as some people may have noticed recently. This is where canned fruits can add some needed dose of vitamin C and color to your daily meals.
Sadly way too many canned fruits come in an overly sweet syrup. I usually discard the syrup and rinse the fruits with fresh water to keep the sugar at bay. Another tip is to add a can of chopped pineapples to your rice and make some stir fried pineapple rice. Absolutely yummy!
10. Canned vegetables
Corn and mushrooms are just a few examples. Once again the fresh produce is better but it can be convenient to have the canned counterparts in the cupboard for rainy days.
11. Beans
I love beans! Beans are an amazing source of carbs and protein. Moreover they are so versatile. You can have rice and beans or chili. Believe it or not, but you can even make desserts such as black bean brownies with them. I always make sure to have beans in my pantry as they can take forever to cook. So this is extremely convenient to have a couple of ready to go cans around.
12. Spices
These magical items are what I would call the MOST important part of any pantry. Spices can literally make or break your meals. It is such an easy way to add taste, body and flavor to a meal that would otherwise be quite bland. Make sure to keep your favorite spices well stocked. Also keep experimenting with new spices as you never know which one might be your next favorite.
13. Non dairy Milk
It can be very convenient to keep non dairy milk in the pantry as they conserve better than regular chilled milk, unless you buy UHT Milk. There are so many options for people who don’t really care for cow milk. There’s soy, almond, cashew milk and so many more. They can come in handy in recipes and baking.
14. Canned Soup
We all have lazy days where we don’t feel like doing anything. Canned soup can be a blessing for those days when we’re just not really feeling it.
15. Oils
Lastly, oils are pretty much a staple in the kitchen. They preserve well and you can go crazy with the varieties. Olive oil is a safe choice as you can use it pretty much everywhere and is a favorite for healthy salad dressings.
Through this list, I tried my best to cover pretty much most food groups. Yes, I do realize that eating canned food is not the ideal situation in the long run. But this list is meant to be an emergency list. Think of it as insurance. You’re not looking forward to using it but knowing that you have it makes you sleep better at night .
Which reminds me that i forgot to add a bonus item
- Red Wine
Just imagine how you can have yourself some tasty spaghetti in creamy tomato sauce, all paired with a wonderful glass of wine.
Now who said pantry staples cooking had to be boring?
Cheers!