Suggested Pantry Staples Make Cooking Without a Recipe Easy

I continue to be asked for a list of items to stock in your pantry and I have hesitated to compile one because I don’t think there is a one size fits all on this subject. Individually, you need to take a look at what your family likes to eat and find ways to stock essentials in non-perishable, long shelf life form. That is paramount to cooking without a recipe.

If you like to bake, you want to keep items that will allow you do so. We don’t generally eat a lot of bread, so I don’t consider that high priority. But if you do and especially if you have a big family, that may rank higher on your priority list.

That being said, I will attempt to provide suggestions on what I like and think is a good idea. One could certainly keep cans of chili, soup and spam in the pantry. It doesn’t hurt to have a few ready made food items like that for a dire emergency. However, I personally prefer mainly to keep things in a form that most resembles what you would find in nature and use those ingredients in different ways.

Vegetables and Condiments

Although fresh vegetables are not technically pantry items, I continue to suggest always keeping on hand: cabbages, hard squash, root vegetables, onions and garlic. They have a long shelf life in the refrigerator and will serve you well once your more perishable vegetables have been consumed. Think also about which vegetables and proteins you might keep in the freezer. I like frozen spinach, green beans, corn and bell peppers, for example. Fish and ground meats perform well in the freezer too. What about condiments? You will always find soy sauce, miso paste and tahini (sesame seed paste) in my refrigerator along with sesame oil because I don’t use it up very quickly and I don’t want it to go rancid. Cooking without a recipe is simple when combining fresh, frozen and pantry items.

Other Essentials

In addition to food items, it’s always a good practice to keep enough essential items like bottled water and sanitary products to carry you through a time of emergency. You shouldn’t have to run out to the store every other day for such basic items. So it was a shame to see the panic that ensued when some people decided to hoard those products, making it difficult for others to get what they needed.

If your tap water isn’t palatable or suitable to drink, can you purchase a basic filter rather than depending on bottled water on a daily basis? There are so many options out there these days and it’s not difficult to find an effective and inexpensive one. As far as convenience and practicality, I think it sure beats hauling bottles here and there frequently.

Disclosure: If you purchase a water filtration system from the company that I recommend, I may be compensated.

I have been a happy customer of Aquasana for over 15 years. We recently blind tasted water from a number of other filters and still prefer ours. It’s easy to use and has saved us money and labor over the years.

Are there shelf stable items that you use often? Perhaps consider buying more than one next time you shop. I use a lot of olive oil, so I will always buy more than one bottle at a time. Same thing for canned tomatoes, beans and pasta.

What Do You Mean?

When I first moved out on my own, an older friend made reference to some “pantry items” that she considered necessary to stock and I had trouble imagining what that would mean for me. I was used to buying only what I needed for the week and I wasn’t accustomed to eating anything from a can. I also happened to be on a tight budget. What I eventually learned is that you don’t have to go out and spend twice as much money as normal in one weekly shopping trip. Simply buy one or two extra shelf stable items each trip so that you can always have something to eat if you aren’t able to go out and buy fresh. It makes cooking without a recipe easy.

Below is a list of items I use frequently and try to keep stocked or that I know I can use in an emergency. Some of them are sustenance and others are flavoring agents. Some are ethnic items that I am very familiar with. You may not be, so feel free to ask me about them and continue to read my blog to find out what to do with them. No doubt you have your own regional favorites and I would love to hear about them!

My Pantry Suggestions

• olive oil
• grapeseed oil or other cooking oil with high smoke point (such as vegetable or canola)
• flavored finishing oil (such as truffle)
• vinegars (white, balsamic, rice, red wine, apple cider, malt etc.)
• mirin (sweet cooking sake)
• dried grains (such as different kinds of rice, quinoa, millet, farro, barley, bulgur, corn grits)
• dried beans/legumes (all kinds, including lentils and split peas)
• dried pasta (different shapes)
• dried ramen noodles
• oatmeal (I prefer steel cut)
• canned beans (all kinds; black beans, garbanzos and cannellini are my favorites)
• quality canned tomatoes (whole peeled, diced, crushed, sauce and paste)
• sun-dried tomatoes
• canned seafood (all kinds, including mackerel, herring, salmon, trout, clams, tuna, anchovies, oysters, crab)
• jarred marinara sauce
• canned chiles (green and chipotle)
• canned enchilada sauce/jarred salsa
• hot sauce
• flour
• baking powder
• baking soda
• powdered eggs (no experience with this, but I would like to try them out)
• sugar
• honey
• dried spices and herbs
• coffee and tea
• bottled juice
• canned fruit (such as pineapple, peaches, applesauce, cranberries)
• dried fruit (raisins, apricots, prunes etc)
• raw nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews etc)
• trail mix
• protein powder
• granola
• snack bars with protein
• chicken/beef/vegetable stock in cartons
• whipping cream in a carton
• peanut butter (or other nut butter such as cashew or almond)
• fruit preserves
• honey
• seaweed
• wakame (dried sea vegetable)
• dried bonito flakes
• dried porcini or other mushrooms
• canned vegetables (I prefer fresh, but I do like canned artichokes, hearts of palm and pumpkin. It doesn’t hurt to stock a few others just in case. Green beans, mushrooms, corn?)
• roasted red peppers in a jar (I usually roast mine fresh, but…)
• giardiniera (Italian pickled vegetables in a jar)
• crackers
• oat milk in a shelf stable carton
• dark chocolate bar
• beef jerky (and other dried proteins such as squid…)

This list is by no means exhaustive and many of these items should be refrigerated once opened. If you live alone, you can buy some items like tuna in a single serving pouch now. Rotate products like crackers and granola every few months because they have a longer shelf life than fresh items, but not indefinite.

I hope that this helps you think about what you might like to keep in your pantry and how you might become better prepared for an emergency. Feel free to share your own suggestions.

For one idea on a satisfying meal made entirely with pantry staples, please read Pantry Pasta Perfection.