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I'm stepping a little out of my norm of only posting recipes and decided to branch out.
I understand that some people may just be starting out with cooking, living on their own, or just find themselves constantly having to run back to the grocery store because they forgot to check what they already have in their fridge or pantry.
Don't worry, I do it all the time. So, I decided to make my own list to follow and hope you can find some use out of it too. Feel free to print it out or write it down for your own reference for future grocery shopping trips. It may save you some money in the long run by omitting all of those extra trips to the grocery store or buying something twice because you forgot what you had.
*Please keep in mind that this list is based on a non-restricted diet so if you're lactose intolerant, celiac, or have any other restrictions, revise to fit your dietary needs.
1. Dry Baking Ingredients
all-purpose flour (or whatever flour you use)
brown sugar
white sugar
icing sugar
baking soda
baking powder
cocoa powder
active dry yeast
salt
quick oats
nuts (walnuts, pecans, peanuts, etc.)
2. Dry Cooking Ingredients
Pasta (any kind)
rice (any kind - my favourite is Jasmine)
onion soup mix
3. Dry Herbs & Spices
black pepper
thyme
oregano
basil
paprika
chilli powder
cayenne pepper
garlic powder
seasoning salt
onion powder
red pepper flakes
Stay tuned to see my reorganization of this messy bucket of spices - it's in dire need of help...
4. Sauces, pastes, butters, & liquids
peanut butter (normal or natural - normal is way better for baking though!)
mayonnaise
mustard
honey or maple syrup
soy sauce
sesame oil
sriracha
hoisin sauce
vanilla extract
chicken, beef, and/or vegetable bullion/broth
oil (canola & olive)
tomato soup - this is a must! (trust me, it can save almost any recipe)
tomato paste
5. Fridge Staples
butter
milk of your choice
eggs
cheese (any kind!)
6. Pantry Produce
white/yellow onions
potatoes (any kind)
Sticking to your budget
A budgeting tip is to wait until these ingredients are on sale or find a good bulk deal at your grocery store. Keep an eye on the online flyers and stock up whenever you can before you run out. You may be spending a lot more one week of the month to grab these staples but the rest of the month(s) will just require your produce and meat, which makes those weeks quite a bit cheaper and less stressful.
I know that stocking your pantry isn't the most fun activity - especially the spending part - but like most things, once you have everything, you won't have to restock for months and you'll thank yourself for it later. It gives you a lot more freedom to make whatever you like when you want to.
There you have it! Use this list to take a good inventory check before you head to the grocery store next time and you'll have a fully-stocked pantry.
Once you have all of your staples, give my last recipe a try: 2-Hour Gooey Skor S'more Cookies
Happy pantry and fridge stocking!
- Emily
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