How to Stock a Pantry for Every Skill Level, Novice to Pro
What Is a Pantry?
pantry /ˈpæntrɪ/ noun (pl) -tries
A small room or cupboard in which provisions, cooking utensils, etc, are kept; larder
Word origin: Early 14th century, from Anglo-French panetrie (Old French paneterie) "bread room," from Medieval Latin panataria "office or room of a servant who has charge of food" (literally "bread"), from Latin panis "bread"
How Are Pantries Used?
The large houses and estates in Victorian era Great Britain had separate rooms for each distinct stage of food preparation. The washing, peeling, and chopping of food was done in the larder, the kitchen was for cooking, and the storeroom was for food storage. The scullery is where dishes and pots and pans were washed. Cleaning of fish and cutting of raw meat (a messy job that required a source of water) was also done there. And, the pantry is where the china, glassware, and silverware were stored.
In America, pantries evolved from early Colonial American "butteries," a cold northern corner in the house where butter was stored. In middle-class America, butler’s pantries or china pantries were built between the dining room and the kitchen.
Today, a pantry is a room or cabinet where non-perishable foods are stored. It can be as simple as one or two shelves in your kitchen cupboard, or as elaborate as a walk-in room with labeled shelving, bins, and storage containers.
Do You Need a Pantry?
Everyone who cooks needs to have a "pantry". But, don't get hung up on the concept of having a large space reserved in your home or your kitchen for storing "stuff".
The "how" is not as important as is the "what". Although organization is important, you first need to consider—What do you need to have on hand to be able to put together easy and healthy meals for yourself and your family?
Here are some ideas.
Canned and Jarred Goods
Cans of peas and corn and jars of peanut butter might sound pretty boring, but where I live we maintain a disaster kit—foods we know we can rely on if and when there is a prolonged power outage from a storm or a cut-off of access to services from an earthquake.
Canned goods are important for all of us. When I mentally look across our country, there is not a spot that is safe from disaster. All of us a likely to be assailed by earthquakes, ice storms, tornadoes, or cyclones. So let's stock our pantries with at least some essentials to help us when we cannot rely on running to the grocery store (or favorite fast-food place). Please make sure to have some vegetables, fruits, canned tuna, and peanut butter in a safe place in your house.
But aside from that, you should also have a few things on hand to help you prepare easy, quick, healthy meals for your family. Here are some suggestions.
Items for the Beginner's Pantry
| Add These If You are Comfortable in the Kitchen
| And Add These If You Dream of Being A Gourmet Cook
|
---|---|---|
beef stock
| canned salmon
| anchovy paste
|
black beans
| kalamata olives
| Asian fish sauce
|
cannellini beans
| mild curry paste
| Asian plum sauce
|
chicken stock
| roasted red peppers
| capers
|
chunk light tuna
| sun-dried tomatoes
| clam juice
|
diced tomatoes
| crushed ginger
| |
garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
| light coconut milk
| |
minced garlic
| mango chutney
| |
peanut butter
| tahini
| |
tomato paste
| ||
vegetable stock
|
Baking Goods

There are also some things you should have in your pantry for baking. I'm not suggesting that you become a 5-star cupcake master. Perhaps you just want to be able to whip up a batch of biscuits to have with beef stew, or waffles for Sunday breakfast. If you are a bit more adventurous you might think of baking a cake or a loaf of bread. Here are the things you might want to have on hand.
Items for the Novice Baker
| Add These to the List If You Like to Bake
| And Add These if You Are Better than Sara Lee
|
---|---|---|
baking powder
| bittersweet chocolate
| dried apricots
|
baking soda
| dry yeast
| pastry flour
|
brown sugar
| sliced almonds
| pine nuts
|
confectioners sugar
| unsweetened cocoa poweder
| pumpkin seeds
|
cornstarch
| whole almonts
| turbonado sugar
|
dark raisins
| whole wheat flour
| white raisins (currants)
|
dried cranberries
| yellow cornmeal
| |
granulated sugar
| ||
non-stick cooking spray
| ||
pecans
| ||
pure vanilla extract
| ||
semi-sweet chocolate chips
| ||
walnuts
| ||
white flour
|
Dry Goods

Dry goods are typically the starchy, carbohydrate part of the meal. Pasta, rice, dried peas and beans, lentils—all of these are necessary to provide a balance to our diets. Here is a suggested list of items to keep on hand.
New in the Kitchen
| Add These if You Are Handy with a Stockpot
| And Add These if You Proclaim "I'm an Iron Chef"
|
---|---|---|
dried lentils
| brown rice
| peal (Israeli) couscous
|
dried pasta
| bulgur wheat
| polenta (not instant)
|
dry bread crumbs
| panko
| rolled oats (not instant)
|
white long-grain rice
| pearl barley
| white arborio rice
|
quinoa
| whole-wheat couscous
| wild rice
|
Herbs and Spices

The spice of life. Salt and pepper are easy, inexpensive, and common-place. If these were the only seasonings you had, you could certainly exist. But, there are opportunities for so much more. Try new tastes from different places. Herbs and spices provide so much interest to our foods. Let's explore.
Seasonings Ever Cook Should Have
| Add These to Your List as Your Repertoir Expands
| And Add These to Pretend You Have Your Own Cooking Show
|
---|---|---|
dried oregano leaves (not powder)
| dried bay leaf
| cinnamon sticks
|
dried thyme leaves (not powder)
| dried crumbled sage (not powder)
| coriander seeds
|
chili powder
| dried dill weed
| curry powder
|
garlic powder
| dried tarragon
| dry mustard
|
ground black pepper
| nutmeg (whole)
| saffron
|
ground cinnamon
| red pepper flakes
| smoked paprika
|
ground cumin
| turmeric
| |
ground ginger
| vanilla bean
| |
paprika
| ||
salt
|
Condiments, Sauces and Spirits

Do you know someone (perhaps yourself?) who cannot eat a meal without having a bottle of ketchup at the ready? My dad was one of those—ketchup on the meatloaf, ketchup on roast beef, on breakfast eggs. I think he might have skipped pouring it on spaghetti, but that might be the only food that escaped.
Yes, I am poking a bit of fun at those who bless their meals with a daily baptism of the sweet red sauce in a bottle, but I will acknowledge that condiments have a place in the well-stocked kitchen. Sometimes a dab of Dijon mustard, a spoonful of honey, or a dash of soy sauce is just the bit of magic needed to transform a sauce or gravy, soup or stew from wimpy to wonderful.
Basic Condiments and Sauces
| Add These As You Gain Confidence
| And Add These When You're Rockin' the Stockpot
|
---|---|---|
barbecue sauce
| chile-garlic sauce
| hoisin sauce
|
dijon mustard
| dry sherry
| marsala wine
|
dill pickles
| fish sauce
| madeira wine
|
honey
| maple syrup
| oyster sauce
|
ketchup
| whole grain mustard
| |
light corn syrup (Karo)
| ||
mayonnaise
| ||
molasses
| ||
soy sauce
| ||
teriyaki sauce
| ||
worcestershire sauce
|
Oils and Vinegars

Every kitchen should have a basic bottle of cooking oil for frying and sauteing, but you might be wondering why vinegar is on the list. I'm not suggesting that you start making your own dill pickles. Vinegar, just a touch, is sometimes all you need to add a bit of punch to a dish. That tang of sour fools our palates into thinking "salty", and reducing the amount of sodium in our diets is a good goal to keep in mind.
Does your spaghetti sauce seem to be lacking "something"? A teaspoon or two of balsamic vinegar might be just what it needs.
Just Getting Started
| Then Add These as You Grow
| And Then Buy These to Make Those Ultimate Meals!
|
---|---|---|
extra virgin olive oil
| balsamic vinegar
| rice wine vinegar
|
apple cider vinegar
| red wine vinegar
| sherry vinegar
|
safflower oil
| ||
sesame oil
| ||
white wine vinegar
|
Questions & Answers
© 2015 Linda Lum
Comments
I have the perfect place for a pantry, alas my husband has it filled with tools although he has at least 3 other sheds he could use for these. My makeshift pantry is a refrigerator that no longer works.
It keeps everything dry. After reading your list, I need to stock up. There aren't a lot of canned foods here, luckily there aren't many natural disasters in this area.
I am bookmarking this to use as a guideline.
I'd give anything for a pantry. I have a very small house and very little room for can goods and other pantry items. I really envy people with pantries. Nice hub.
Ummm...if you ever come to Olympia, I won't let you see our pantry. In fact, I wouldn't even be able to find it to show it to you. LOL My goodness gracious...we are woefully lacking at our house. :)
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