Pantry Basics : Staples (standard supplies)
If you are just setting up house, you'll need to keep some standard food staples on hand to be prepared for any recipe. Most of the items on this list are shelf-stable. It's a good idea to mark items with a purchase date to make sure you use the oldest items first and get rid of any that hide in the back of your cupboard too long. Some items will require refrigeration after opening or have expiration dates (such as yeast). Check labels.Vegetables like potatoes and onions should be kept in a cool, dark place. Citrus fruits can last for weeks in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. This is a general guide. Take your own tastes into consideration when selecting your own pantry basics.
Herbs & Spices
Condiments
Refrigerator and Freezer
Pantry Basics : Staples (standard kitchen supplies)
Baking powder Baking soda
Beans, canned: black, red kidney, white
Beans, dried: red kidney, great northern, lima, lentils, split pea, black, pinto
Bread crumbs
Broth, dried and canned: beef, vegetable, chicken
Cereal
Chocolate: unsweetened squares, semisweet chips, cocoa powder
Coffee: beans, ground, instant
Cooking spray
Cornmeal
Cornstarch
Crackers
Dried fruits: raisins, apricots
Extracts: vanilla, lemon, almond, orange
Flour: All purpose, whole wheat, cake, bread
Fruit preserves, jam, jelly
Garlic, fresh
Gelatin: powdered, unflavored
Lemons, fresh
Limes, fresh
Milk: boxed, powdered, evaporated
Nuts: almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pecans, pine
Onions: red and yellow
Pasta, dried: spaghetti, linguini, angel hair, fettuccine, penne, noodles
Peanut butter
Potatoes, fresh
Rice: long-grain, wild, basmati, arborio
Soup: canned and dry bouillon
Sugar: granulated, confectioner's, light and dark brown
Tea
Tomatoes: canned whole, crushed, chopped, puree, sauce, fresh
Tuna, canned
Yeast, dry active
Other Pantry Basics Lists:
Herbs and Spices
Condiments
Refrigerator and Freezer
Credits
Adapted from: Great Adventures In Food by Ellen Haas (St. Martin's Press)

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