Pantry staples are important to keep on hand at all times because you can make almost anything with a few simple ingredients.
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I know you know how crazy times are right now. It’s getting pretty difficult to find basic items in the store. Toilet paper, pumpkin products, diapers, water, etc.
My husband and I made the decision a while back that we would work on not relying on grocery stores so much just incase that didn’t become an option anymore. We wanted to have food security because we do have so many mouths to feed. We wanted to prepare for rain if you get what I mean…
Why do I need to keep items on hand?
I learned that keeping a fully stocked pantry at all times helped so much with being able to make the normal things I would buy from the store, at home.
For instance, last year (2020) stores ran out of food due to places being shut down or they had restrictions on basic things that everyone needs. It was just a mess. When we were finally able to actually buy food, people looked at us as if we were hoarding food. We almost wanted to put a sign on our back that said, “Not hoarding, we’re a family of 7.” It was stressful!
I started making anything I could from things I already had at home:
- coffee creamer
- chocolate syrup
- hard shell (for ice cream)
- bread
- pizza dough and sauce
- mayo
- basically if it could be made at home, I did it.
I have found that it has made my life easier to keep these items on hand at all times.
I have created the ultimate pantry staples list, so you can also have a fully stocked pantry.
Pantry Staples
*this item is a multipurpose item, meaning it could be used for cooking, cleaning or “medicinally”.
Baking Staples
- flour
- corn meal
- sugar
- brown sugar (or molasses)
- powdered sugar
- baking powder
- baking soda*
- cocoa powder
- raw honey*
- maple syrup
- chocolate chips
- yeast (or sourdough starter)
- shortening/lard
- vanilla extract
Herbs and Spices Staples
- onion powder
- dried minced onion
- garlic powder
- garlic salt
- sea salt*
- pepper
- chili powder
- cumin
- paprika
- red pepper flakes
- cayenne pepper
- Italian seasoning
- basil
- rosemary
- parsley
- oregano
- dill
- thyme
- chives
- cilantro
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
Oil and Vinegar Staples
- coconut oil*
- olive oil
- avocado oil
- apple cider vinegar (with mother)*
- white vinegar*
- red wine vinegar
- balsamic vinegar
Dry Goods Staples
- rice
- quinoa
- oatmeal
- chia seeds
- flax seed (ground flax)
- coconut flakes
- pasta
- dried beans
- nuts
- dried fruits
Canned Goods Staples
- broths (beef, chicken, vegetable)
- tomato juice
- nut butters
- jams/jellies
- tomato sauce
- diced tomatoes
- tomato paste
- salsa
- pickles
Condiments
- ketchup
- mustard
- salad dressings
- relish
- soy sauce (or coco aminos)
- hot sauce
Pantry Organization Items
I like to keep a few extra of these items on hand so I can add to our pantry storage any time I need to.
What are some of your pantry staple items? Comment down below to share!
Free Printables
Enjoy some free printable I made to help you in your pantry stocking journey!
FREE Pantry Staples Checklist Printables here
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Great inventory list, thank you!
I’ve been steadily working on making sure we have a well stocked pantry. I’ll definitely be referencing this list.
Thank you! I feel like we’re always working on our pantry to get it “perfected” and it can take a while to get it done. Once you get to a “good place”, it feels so good!