The Well Stocked Pantry

What exactly is a pantry? Oh wow. What a question. Pantries can be different to everyone. Depending on your cooking style and tastes, a pantry can have almost anything in it. The lists can never be definitive. Indian cooks are going to have different pantries than Italian cooks versus a southern cook and so forth. That said there are basics. Let's break it up by area, but please don't think that if something is on the list it needs to be in your pantry. Remember, if you don't like it, don't store it.

When deciding to fill a pantry, you have to look backwards to go forward. Let me explain. Generally you want your pantry to be a rotating inventory of food that gets used and replaced over a few months. I've shared and listened to more than my fair share of stories regarding a specialty item that expired in the back of the pantry. So before you begin buying, you really should look at your consumption of items prior to adding them. Foodstuffs do expire so keep that in mind when purchasing them.

The next thing to consider is storage. If you don't have a large kitchen, and very little storage space elsewhere, your needs and wants are going to be limited by your ability to store them properly. However, that does not mean you can't have a full pantry of foods that can make a meal in a pinch. Buying items packed in smaller quantities has its advantage at times. If you use a lot of spices but can't store large containers, look for the new spice systems available like this one.

Baking
flour, wheat, white (unbleached),rice, almond, potato etc.
granulated sugar
powdered sugar
brown sugar
cornstarch
baking powder
baking soda
yeast
shortening
chocolate (milk & various degrees of dark)
cocoa, dutched and regular

Dried Goods
dried beans (various types)
dried fruits
currants
raisins
dates

Rice
arborio rice
brown rice
white rice
wild rice

Tomatoes (canned)
chopped tomatoes
tomato sauce
tomato paste
whole tomatoes

Vinegars
apple cider vinegar
balsamic vinegar
red wine vinegar
raspberry vinegar
rice vinegar
white wine vinegar

Dried Pasta
angel hair
egg noodles
fettuccine
lasagna
linguine
penne
spaghetti

Dried Herbs
anise seeds
basil leaves
bay leaves
caraway seeds
cayenne pepper
chili powder
cilantro
coriander
cumin
curry powder
dill weed
fennel seeds
herbs de Providence
marjoram
dried mustard
oregano
paprika
rosemary
peppercorns (assorted)
poppy seeds
sage
salt (a good variety)
saffron
sesame seeds
Hot sauce (your favorite)
tarragon
thyme
turmeric

Spices
cinnamon (ground & whole sticks)
cloves (ground & whole)
nutmeg (ground and whole)
ground allspice
ground cardamon
ground ginger
ground mace


Condiments
chicken broth
beef broth
chutney
hoisin sauce
honey
horseradish
gelatin (unflavored and flavored)
ketchup
lemon juice (make sure it's real lemon)
lime juice
maple syrup
mayonnaise
molasses
mustard (dried, seed and paste)
peanut butter
pickles (sweet, dill & relish)
salsa
sliced pimentos
soy sauce
sun dried tomatoes
Teryaki sauce
Worcestershire sauce

Oils
extra-virgin olive oil
vegetable oil
walnut oil
truffle oil

Milks
evaporated milk
powdered buttermilk
powdered milk
sweetened condensed milk

Canned Goods
beans - black, garbanzo, pinto, baked etc.
fruits
vegetables
cream of mushroom soup
kidney beans
mushrooms
olives (green & black)
clams
salmon
tuna fish
chicken
beef

Misc.
coffee (regular & decaf)
tea (various types)

Extracts
almond extract
vanilla extract
vanilla beans

Specialty Items
anchovies
artichoke hearts
capers
caviar
curry paste
dried mushrooms
olive paste
pesto
roasted peppers
shrimp & crab boil
smoked oysters

Fresh Produce
fresh herbs (various)
lemons
garlic bulbs
onions (red & white)
potatoes

Dairy and Nuts
butter
cream
eggs
parmesan cheese
sour cream
various cheeses
various nuts