Kitchen Staples: How to Stock a New Pantry

My daughter is almost 22 years old, and she just managed to get her first really professional job, making a good salary, and now she's looking at moving out on her own and buying her first house. I'm unbelievably proud of her. While we were making lists of things to buy for her new house, she asked me, "What about for the kitchen?" I figured she meant dishes and pots and pans and such. "No," she said, "I mean, like all the flour and stuff you have in the cabinets."

It hit me then that we build up the 'staples' in our kitchens over the years. I have food coloring boxes from 1976 in my cabinet, I think, and I have glass bottles of extracts that were in my mother's kitchen when I was but a child. I wasn't prepared to part with any of my little collection of sundries to give to my daughter, so we decided to make a list of all the things you need in your kitchen to get started.

So if you're moving, want to have a well-stocked pantry, or are just wanting to make a list and buy all the staples a good kitchen needs, this article is for you.

Spices -- Variety and Flavor!

Every bachelor I've ever known has two spices - salt and pepper - but when it comes to cooking, spices are the variety, and dare I say, the spice of life! Every kitchen should have a variety of good, common spices to be well-stocked. The basic spices required for a well-stocked pantry or kitchen should include, at minimum: Paprika, Basil, Rosemary, Parsley, Tarragon, Cumin, Crushed Red Pepper, Thyme, Oregano, Bay Leaves, Cayenne, Ginger, Marjoram, Allspice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Salt, Pepper, Whole Black Peppercorn, and of course, Garlic!

Cooking Oil - Vegetable Isn't All There Is!

When I was younger, I bought big plastic jugs of vegetable oil to cook with. Today, I've learned the subtle but very important difference between healthy and unhealthy oils, and the flavor differences cooking oil varieties can bring to the table. I highly recommend that since oil doesn't spoil like many kitchen items, buying a variety of cooking oils to keep on hand. These should include: Olive Oil, Sesame Oil, Canola Oil and Peanut Oil.

Once you try these, you might not ever buy plane old vegetable oil ever again. I'm partial to sesame oil for frying and olive oil for anything that's not cooked.

Extracts - Vanilla Is God-food

Vanilla extract not only tastes wonderful in so many dishes, but it smells divine. Truly, it is a food of the gods, and can be added to almost anything dessert-like in your kitchen. Pure vanilla extract is an absolute must have item for a well-stocked kitchen or pantry.

Other extracts that you might want to have on hand include: Lemon, Orange, Peppermint, Cinnamon, Butter, Almond and Maple.

Dried Goods Kitchen Staples

For dried goods, those things that can go in a pantry and don't spoil from exposure and are usually boxed (not canned), the following are must have kitchen staples for a well-stocked pantry: all-purpose pre-sifted flour, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, brown sugar, dried beans, corn starch, corn meal, oatmeal, and a variety of dried packaged noodles. Many last-minute excellent meals can be concocted from just these ingredients alone in a pinch.

Other items you will want for a well-stocked kitchen or pantry include: baking soda, baking powder, and yeast packages. Powdered milk is always a good thing to keep around in a pinch too.

Canned Goods Kitchen Staples

Canned goods are nice to have around in the event you don't have time or the finances to pick up fresh things. It's always good to keep some canned vegetables and fruit on hand, because in the event of a power-outage, storm or other disaster, you'll miss fruits and vegetables the most until services are restored, so a few canned items always helps.

You can also keep around some canned meats, canned sauces, and canned beans for quick and easy, lazy meals, uncooked meals, or meals where you need protein. Whenever you shop, just pick up a few additional cans of things so you can start stocking up your pantry a little at a time.

Wet Goods Kitchen Staples

Lastly, we come to the wet-goods kitchen staples, the must haves for the liquid side of our cooking and eating lifestyles. Individual tastes will vary, so these might not all work for your well-stocked kitchen or pantry, but they are good, basic staples for most kitchens: lemon juice, lime juice, vinegar, cooking wine, corn syrup, maple syrup, grape jelly, strawberry jelly, milk, eggs, chicken and/or beef stock (or bullion cubes), butter, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, tomato sauce, condensed milk, evaporated milk, and soups.

Well-stocked Kitchens and Pantries

When someone moves into their first home or apartment or they are moving, these staple items often get thrown away, tossed out and they take time to replace. The last list I have to share is a list of things for a well-stocked pantry that aren't staples, but that most people have or have had in their homes: hot sauce, pickles, relish, jalapenos, salad dressings, sauerkraut, horseradish, malt vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, BBQ sauce, olives, and more.

Lastly, even if you don't drink it, always consider keeping tea and/or coffee around the house, because many of your guests will likely drink it, and it's always nice to be hospitable to guests.

A suggestion for a great Christmas gift or housewarming gift for a new home-owner or an adult child moving out on their own for the first time would be a gift basket full of these kitchen staples to help stock their pantry and keep their kitchens read to cook! Plus, it will save them money if they actually use these things instead of blowing it all on fast food!