The Ultimate Pantry & Freezer Essentials List – Beginners Guide To A Well-Stocked Kitchen
Having a well-stocked kitchen can help you throw dinner together on those busy nights or make some cookies when you have a craving. Keeping your kitchen pantry and freezer stocked with foods that last can also be very helpful in emergency situations.
There are so many different recipes you can make right from your kitchen essentials that are delicious and even healthy! My Ultimate Pantry and Freezer Essentials list will help you become a pro in your recipe creation.
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Beginners Guide To A Well-Stocked Kitchen
The key to creating your perfect well stocked kitchen at home is to think of things that your family loves to eat. I have created the ultimate checklist, but keep in mind that you can change this list up to fit your families needs.
If you don’t like something on my list, don’t buy it. If you think of other things I don’t have on my list, buy those instead!
The point of stocking your kitchen with your families essentials is to be ready to make dinner or snacks for your family or friends quickly but that they will enjoy eating. It also helps you spend less time shopping.
Let’s get started creating your ultimate pantry and freezer essentials list!
Before You Shop Tips
- Browse Recipes
-Before you go shopping browse some recipes that are pantry friendly, like my one pot chili mac and cheese. Browsing through different recipes that your family would enjoy can help you see the type of essentials you should have in your kitchen. - Make a List
-Make a list of the things you want to buy and how many of them you want to buy. You don’t want to go overboard and have too many things in the pantry or freezer. Pantry and freezer food can still go bad if you don’t use it in a certain amount of time. If your family likes to eat rice or pasta a lot, buy a couple of those products instead of one. Buy according to your family’s needs. - Browse Coupons
-I always browse coupons before shopping, there are many apps that offer coupons. - You don’t have to buy everything at once!
-I know this can seem intimidating if you have never done this before, but you don’t have to buy everything at once. Do whatever fits your budget. If you can afford a few things here and there, do that. If you can afford to do it all at once and want to do it that way, go for it!
Free Printable Pantry and Freezer Essentials List!
The Ultimate Pantry Essentials List
When stocking your pantry here are a few tips to keep things organized
- Keep similar items together. All the pastas together, beans together, spices together, etc.
- Keep the things that are going to expire first in the front. I hate wasting food, and it really makes me upset when I go to my pantry and I have let something expire before using it!
- Keep a list of things in the pantry. I have recently started doing this because I don’t want things to go to waste, Having a list of everything in the pantry, how many of them you have and when they expire can help you use up items at a quick glance. Remember to check things off the list when you use them.
Now let’s look at the essentials for a well-stocked pantry.
Basics
- Salt
- Pepper
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cornstarch
Baking
- Flour (whatever kind you use, such as white, whole wheat, almond, gluten-free, etc)
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Chocolate Chips (I like to keep a variety on hand, such as dark, semi-sweet, and white chocolate)
- Cocoa Powder
- Vanilla Extract
- Ground Flax Seed
Drinks
This is very dependent on preference. You might not need anything or might drink completely different things than we do.
- Coffee
- Variety of teas
- Jugs Of Water
- Shelf stable almond and coconut milk (great non-perishable item for cooking)
Sweeteners
- Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Powdered Sugar
- Honey
- Maple Syrup
- Stevia
Grains, Rice and Beans
- White Rice
- Wild Rice
- Pasta Variety (such as spaghetti, elbow noodles, penne, etc)
- Breadcrumbs
- Oats
- Variety of dried beans (can buy canned instead)
- Lentils
Canned/Jarred Goods
- Chicken Broth
- Beef Broth
- Variety Of Canned Beans (can buy dry instead if preferred)
- Veggies (such as corn, carrots, peas, etc)
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Tomato Sauce
- Tomato Paste
- Tuna
- Potatoes
- Fruit (such as pineapple, peaches, pears, etc. Buy with no sugar or in own juice)
- Pickles
- Banana Peppers
Snacks
- Chips
- Pretzels
- Cookies
- Crackers
- Tortillas
- Popcorn
- Granola Bars
- Cereal
- Dried Fruit
- Graham Crackers
- Nuts
- Peanut Butter
- Applesauce
Herbs and Spices
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb seasoning
- Basil
- Oregano
- Cayenne Pepper
- Paprika
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Lemon Pepper
- Cinnamon
- Thyme
- Nutmeg
- Chili Powder
- Rosemary
- Dill
- Ginger
Condiments
- Ketchup
- Mayo
- Mustard
- Sriracha (or other hot sauce)
- Soy Sauce
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Ranch (or other salad dressing of choice)
- Italian Dressing
- Jelly or Jam
Miscellaneous
- Potatoes (they last awhile in the pantry)
- Sweet Potatoes
- Onions
- Garlic
- Complete Pancake Mix
- Bacon Bits (perfect to add flavor to veggies or soups)
- Croutons
- Parmesan Cheese
- Tahini
- Lemons or Limes
The Ultimate Freezer Essentials List
Keeping a well-stocked freezer along with your pantry is how you will be a pro at throwing dinners together in no time. The freezer is a great place to stock on meat, vegetables and fruits that will last while. It is also great to keep things stocked in the freezer in case of any emergencies.
Here are a few tips to keep your freezer essentials organized.
- Get an extra freezer if you can. I know that everyone can’t do this, but if you are able to get an extra freezer (even a small one) it will help make room for the things that you want to store in there easily.
- Label everything. Don’t make the mistake of tossing something in the freezer, not labeling it and then not remembering what it is a few months later. Use a sharpie to label things and write dates on them. For example, if you want to freeze some leftover fruit for smoothies, place the fruit into a zip lock bag and LABEL IT!
- If you buy meat in bulk, separate it before freezing it. If you don’t separate it first, it is almost impossible to do when it is frozen. Plus, separating it early saves you time when you are ready to make dinner.
Now on to our freezer essentials list!
Freezer
- Vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower, corn, etc) Frozen veggies can still be yummy, learn how to make them taste amazing with my quick frozen veggie recipe. You can also make things like mashed cauliflower, or broccoli soup with frozen vegetables.
- Fruit (such as strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, peaches, etc)
- Ground beef or turkey
- Breakfast Sausage
- Chicken breast, legs, wings
- Shrimp and Fish
- Ice Cream
- Puff Pastry
The freezer is also a great place to store extras that you use frequently. We live out of town so when I shop I like to buy extras of things we use a lot but that might not last in the freezer until we use them.
Examples of extras that can be frozen
- Cheese
- Bread
- Lunch Meat
- Yogurt Tubes
- Bacon
Pantry and Freezer Organization
Organization is key for your pantry or freezer. Without organization, you won’t be able to find the things your looking for and products might expire before you can use them.
Here are my favorite things to keep my pantry and freezer organized.
For Spices
Depending where you keep your spices, there are few different storage and organization options.
This 3 tier organizer is great for a cabinet or pantry, it expands to become bigger or smaller, making it perfect for many different spaces.
If you keep your spices in a drawer, this expanding drawer spice rack will be perfect for you.
For Canned Goods
This Stackable Can Storage dispenser holds 36 cans, saving you so much space in your pantry.
For Dried Goods
I love using these BPA free Airtight storage containers for all my dried goods or baking essentials. They keep everything fresh, are clearly labeled and stackable.
Pantry and Freezer Essentials Dinner Ideas
You can make a lot of dinners right from the pantry and freezer. If there is something in the recipe that you cannot find or do not have, you can substitute is with something else or leave it out if you need too. If the recipe calls for fresh vegetables, try frozen instead, just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Homemade Sloppy Joes
- Easy Taco Soup with Chicken (can leave out chicken if you do not have)
- More Pantry Dinners
Pantry and Freezer Essentials Snack or Dessert Ideas
There you have The Ultimate Pantry and Freezer Essentials List! What are the essentials your family has just got to have!?
Let me know in the comments below!
Be sure to tag #cakestokale on Instagram and Facebook if you make any of my recipes, I love to see them and share them!
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