Basic Pantry
While setting up a basic pantry does cost a little extra money, in the long run it can save you quite a bit of money. It is easily adaptable to family and personal needs, and once in place, is relatively inexpensive to maintain.
My basic pantry consists of:
Dry Goods:
Cornmeal
Cornstarch
Dry Beans (black, pinto, navy, etc...)
Dry Cereals
Dry Milk Powder (will save you many trips to the store when you are running low on fresh milk)
Flour (all-purpose, and bread or wheat)
Granulated Sugar (and sugar substitute)
Grits (if you're fortunate enough to live in the south, otherwise they can be difficult to find)
Jelly (grape, raspberry, strawberry preserves, etc...)
Long-grain White Rice and Brown Rice
Oatmeal (quick cooking and regular)
Pasta (spaghetti, fettuccini, elbows, penne, rigatoni, shells, twists, lasagna, wide egg noodles, etc...)
Peanut Butter
Popcorn
Ramen Noodles
Tea
Extras...
Biscuit Mix
Buttermilk Powder
Cake Mix
Coffee Creamer
Gravy Mix (warehouse clubs sell this by the pound!)
Pancake Mix
Peanuts, Other Nuts & Seeds (almonds, pecans, walnuts, soy nuts, sunflower seeds, etc... store in fridge)
Pudding and Jello Mixes
Additional Baking Supplies:
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Chocolate Chips
Condensed Milk
Confectioners' Sugar
Dark Brown Sugar
Evaporated Milk
Light Brown Sugar
Light Corn Syrup
Vanilla Extract (not flavoring)
Yeast Packets (store in fridge)
Extras...
Almond Bark (melting chocolate)
Almond Extract
Brownie, Cake and Muffin Mixes (when on sale!)
Decorative Sugar and Sprinkles
Food Coloring
Hershey's® Cocoa Powder
Honey
Molasses
Raisins
Shredded Coconut (store in fridge)
Unsweetened Baking Chocolate
Spices:
Basil
Bay Leaves
Bouillon Cubes (chicken and beef)
Chili Powder
Cinnamon
Garlic
Ginger
Nutmeg
Onion Powder
Oregano
Paprika
Parsley
Pepper (coarse ground)
Rosemary
Sage
Salt (low-sodium, Morton® iodized and sea salt)
Extras...
Celery Seeds
Chives
Cloves
Cumin
Curry Powder
Dry Mustard
Poppy Seeds
Sesame Seeds
Thyme
Canned Goods:
Chicken Broth (or store your own in the freezer whenever you boil a chicken)
Fruit (sliced peaches, pears, pineapple, fruit cocktail - packed in their own juice!)
Soups (chicken noodle, tomato, cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, etc...)
Tomatoes (diced, crushed)
Tomato Paste
Tomato Sauce
Tuna
Chicken
Vegetables (baked beans, green beans, corn, peas, sliced mushrooms, etc...)
Extras...
Hot Dog Chili
Pie Fillings
Pumpkin
Salmon
Salsa
Spaghetti Sauce
Condiments & Misc.:
Applesauce
Barbecue Sauce
Canola Oil
Cooking Spray
Ketchup
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Olive Oil
Pancake Syrup
Salad Dressing
Soy Sauce
Vegetable Shortening
Vinegar
Worcestershire Sauce
Extras...
Apple Butter
Apple-Cider Vinegar
Bottled Water (for emergencies)
Mini-marshmallows
Olives (black or green)
Teriyaki Sauce
Bread: (as needed)
Wheat Bread Loaf
Bagels
English Muffins
Hotdog or Hamburger Buns
Pretzels
Ritz®-like Crackers
Tortillas
Perishable Items: (as needed)
Dairy (milk, eggs, real butter, margarine, cheese, sour cream, Cool Whip®, ice cream, yogurt, etc...)
Fresh Fruit in Season or on Sale (apples, bananas, berries, oranges, grapes, melons, etc...)
Fresh Vegetables in Season or on Sale (asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, corn on the cob, green peppers, mushrooms, etc...)
Garlic
Meat, Fish & Poultry - whatever you like, as long as it's on sale!
Onions (yellow, sweet or red-which are actually purple)
Potatoes (white, small red, yellow/gold or sweet)
Salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, etc...)
My basic pantry consists of:
Dry Goods:
Cornmeal
Cornstarch
Dry Beans (black, pinto, navy, etc...)
Dry Cereals
Dry Milk Powder (will save you many trips to the store when you are running low on fresh milk)
Flour (all-purpose, and bread or wheat)
Granulated Sugar (and sugar substitute)
Grits (if you're fortunate enough to live in the south, otherwise they can be difficult to find)
Jelly (grape, raspberry, strawberry preserves, etc...)
Long-grain White Rice and Brown Rice
Oatmeal (quick cooking and regular)
Pasta (spaghetti, fettuccini, elbows, penne, rigatoni, shells, twists, lasagna, wide egg noodles, etc...)
Peanut Butter
Popcorn
Ramen Noodles
Tea
Extras...
Biscuit Mix
Buttermilk Powder
Cake Mix
Coffee Creamer
Gravy Mix (warehouse clubs sell this by the pound!)
Pancake Mix
Peanuts, Other Nuts & Seeds (almonds, pecans, walnuts, soy nuts, sunflower seeds, etc... store in fridge)
Pudding and Jello Mixes
Additional Baking Supplies:
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Chocolate Chips
Condensed Milk
Confectioners' Sugar
Dark Brown Sugar
Evaporated Milk
Light Brown Sugar
Light Corn Syrup
Vanilla Extract (not flavoring)
Yeast Packets (store in fridge)
Extras...
Almond Bark (melting chocolate)
Almond Extract
Brownie, Cake and Muffin Mixes (when on sale!)
Decorative Sugar and Sprinkles
Food Coloring
Hershey's® Cocoa Powder
Honey
Molasses
Raisins
Shredded Coconut (store in fridge)
Unsweetened Baking Chocolate
Spices:
Basil
Bay Leaves
Bouillon Cubes (chicken and beef)
Chili Powder
Cinnamon
Garlic
Ginger
Nutmeg
Onion Powder
Oregano
Paprika
Parsley
Pepper (coarse ground)
Rosemary
Sage
Salt (low-sodium, Morton® iodized and sea salt)
Extras...
Celery Seeds
Chives
Cloves
Cumin
Curry Powder
Dry Mustard
Poppy Seeds
Sesame Seeds
Thyme
Canned Goods:
Chicken Broth (or store your own in the freezer whenever you boil a chicken)
Fruit (sliced peaches, pears, pineapple, fruit cocktail - packed in their own juice!)
Soups (chicken noodle, tomato, cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, etc...)
Tomatoes (diced, crushed)
Tomato Paste
Tomato Sauce
Tuna
Chicken
Vegetables (baked beans, green beans, corn, peas, sliced mushrooms, etc...)
Extras...
Hot Dog Chili
Pie Fillings
Pumpkin
Salmon
Salsa
Spaghetti Sauce
Condiments & Misc.:
Applesauce
Barbecue Sauce
Canola Oil
Cooking Spray
Ketchup
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Olive Oil
Pancake Syrup
Salad Dressing
Soy Sauce
Vegetable Shortening
Vinegar
Worcestershire Sauce
Extras...
Apple Butter
Apple-Cider Vinegar
Bottled Water (for emergencies)
Mini-marshmallows
Olives (black or green)
Teriyaki Sauce
Bread: (as needed)
Wheat Bread Loaf
Bagels
English Muffins
Hotdog or Hamburger Buns
Pretzels
Ritz®-like Crackers
Tortillas
Perishable Items: (as needed)
Dairy (milk, eggs, real butter, margarine, cheese, sour cream, Cool Whip®, ice cream, yogurt, etc...)
Fresh Fruit in Season or on Sale (apples, bananas, berries, oranges, grapes, melons, etc...)
Fresh Vegetables in Season or on Sale (asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, corn on the cob, green peppers, mushrooms, etc...)
Garlic
Meat, Fish & Poultry - whatever you like, as long as it's on sale!
Onions (yellow, sweet or red-which are actually purple)
Potatoes (white, small red, yellow/gold or sweet)
Salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, etc...)