What foods should the from-scratch home cook keep stocked up on? The list could go on and on, but here are 10 foods you should always keep stocked in your pantry!

Whether it’s unexpected guests, a sudden craving, or even emergencies, a pantry filled with essentials can save the day. If you know how to use them, these are ingredients that you can easily use to create tasty meals from scratch! These items are all shelf stable & last a relatively long time if stored properly.

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How should you store food so it will last longer?

The first thing to know when it comes to stocking your pantry is how to actually keep the food from spoiling. Luckily, this isn’t hard at all! The main thing to keep in mind is that you’ll want to store your food in a dark, dry, and cool place. For most people, a room temperature cabinet works just fine. This isn’t something to overthink but rather just something to keep in mind when planning your food storage.

For foods like pasta, canned goods, condiments, and spices, I prefer to store them in their original packaging for convenience. However, we buy large quantities of flour, sugar, rice, and oats. This would make it pretty inconvenient to keep those large bags around for everyday use, so we opt to store them in 5 gallon food-grade buckets with gamma seal lids* for easy access.

Should you freeze your flour?

When we are buying flour and other grains from the store, there is always a chance for pest eggs to be present in that product. Gross, I know. If given enough time, those eggs could mature into full on bugs crawling around in the food. This is obviously a problem.

For this reason, I freeze flour, oats, rice, pasta, dry beans, and sugar for at least 48 hours in it’s original packaging when I bring it home from the store. This should kill off anything in the product keeping your pantry goods safe from pests. After a few days, I remove it from the freezer to thaw at room temperature for another few days before storing permanently in my pantry.

Does canned food go bad?

Information from the USDA website states that commercially canned foods are often good well past the date printed on them as long as the can itself is in good condition. They even use the word indefinitely in the article. This means that stocking up on canned goods is a great use of space in your pantry! You’ll always want to use the oldest items in your pantry first, but there is no need to immediately throw something out if it’s a few months past the date on the can.

Now, let’s get into the 10 items I think you should always keep stocked in your pantry!

Flour

This list wouldn’t be complete without talking about flour. Flour is the cornerstone of countless recipes, from fluffy pancakes to hearty bread. There are many different types of flour that you can store, but I stick to good ol’ all purpose flour. I find that it’s the most versatile, and I can make anything with it! You can also use it as a yeast by making a sourdough starter from water & flour. This is a great article on how exactly to get started with making your own starter.

Oats

Whether you choose rolled or steel-cut, oats are packed with fiber and nutrients, making them a nutritious addition to baked goods, granola, or as a comforting bowl of oatmeal. Plus, oats can add bulk and texture to meatloaves, veggie burgers, and fruit crumbles. I prefer to stick with rolled oats (not quick oats) as they are easy to cook & are the most called for variety in the recipes I use.

Rice

There are many types of rice to choose from when stocking your pantry, and you should always keep on hand the things you actually like to eat. However, something to keep in mind is that white rice stores much longer than brown rice. For this reason, we choose to keep jasmine rice as our rice of choice for the pantry.

Sugar

Sugar makes everything taste better, so it’s something no pantry should be without. I keep a large quantity of cane sugar & smaller amounts of brown sugar and powdered sugar. This is also a good time to mention sweeteners like maple syrup and honey, as well! While honey may be a bit pricey, it has an indefinite shelf life, so it’s always a pantry staple in our house.

Tomato Sauce and Paste

Tomato sauce and paste are the building blocks of many delicious dishes, including pasta sauces, soups, stews, and homemade pizza. Of course, you can keep diced and crushed tomatoes on hand as well, but I find myself reaching for sauce and paste most of all!

Canned Meat

I know that many people aren’t used to cooking with canned meats, but I love using them! I find canned meats to be such a convenient way to get a quick, healthy meal on the table. We raise chickens for meat, so I can our own chicken. But I also have some store-bought ground beef, pork, turkey, fish, and even spam stocked in my pantry as well.

Canned Fruits and Vegetables

Canned fruits and veggies are the stars of the show for rounding out a homemade meal. I really appreciate them for the fact that they are usually picked and packaged at peak freshness. This means that canned options may be better for you than fresh options from the store if you aren’t buying things that are in season at the time. Canned fruits are especially great if you have kids that want a sweet treat!

Beans

Beans are a versatile source of protein and fiber, making them a pantry staple. I prefer to grab dry beans and can them myself to save a bit of money. But canned beans are also quite cost effective and so convenient! I love to add beans to chilis, soups, tacos, or even just to rice for a super simple dinner idea.

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a kid favorite, so of course, they make the list! One thing to note, peanut butter may not have as long of a shelf life as some other things on this list due to it’s oil content.

Broth, Spices, and Sauces

Broth, spices, and sauces are the secret weapons of any well-stocked pantry. You can store all the other ingredients on this list, but if you want flavorful meals, you’ll want to remember to stock up on the condiments and spices that make them taste even better!

The main thing to ensure you have, in my opinion, is salt. Salt is truly the key to making food taste delicious, and I would start there when it comes to building a spice collection!

While this list doesn’t contain every single food item you’d ever want in your pantry, I hope it gives you a good idea on where to start if you’re starting your journey of building a well-stocked pantry! Comment below with anything you would add to the list as well!