[thethe-image-slider name="Pantry"]
Basic Pantry Staples
Pantry |
Fridge |
Spices |
Freezer |
|
| Apple Cider Vinegar | Anchovy Paste | Bay Leaves | Bacon | |
| Baking Powder | Butter | Black Pepper | Breadcrumbs | |
| Baking Soda | Capers | Cayenne Pepper | Chicken Breasts | |
| Bread (freeze for longer) | Dijon Mustard | Cinnamon | Chicken Thighs | |
| Bread Crumbs or Panko | Eggs | Cumin | Chopped Spinach | |
| Canned Beans | Heavy Whipping Cream | Curry Powder | Cooked Pasta | |
| Canned Tomatoes | Ketchup | Kosher Salt | Corn | |
| Canned Tuna | Lemon or Lime Juice | Oregano | Frozen Berries | |
| Chicken/Veg Broth | Mayonnaise | Sea Salt | Ground Beef or Turkey | |
| Chocolate | Milk | Thyme | Homemade Pasta Sauce | |
| Coconut Milk | Olives | Ice Cream | ||
| Coffee | Sriracha or Hot Sauce | Expanding | Nuts | |
| Dried Fruit | Tabasco Sauce | Over-Ripe Bananas | ||
| Flour | Worcestershire Sauce | Allspice | Peas | |
| Garlic | Yogurt | Cloves | Peeled Shrimp | |
| Honey or Agave | Dry Mustard | |||
| Lentils | Five Spice Powder | |||
| Nuts (freeze for longer) | Garam Masala | |||
| Oatmeal | Mint | |||
| Olive Oil | Nutmeg | |||
| Pasta | Paprika | |||
| Potatoes | Rosemary | |||
| Red Wine Vinegar | Sage | |||
| Rice | Tarragon | |||
| Sesame Oil | ||||
| Soy Sauce | ||||
| Sugar | ||||
| Tea | ||||
| Tomato Paste | ||||
| Vanilla | ||||
| Vegetable Oil (neutral flavor) | ||||
| Yellow Onions | ||||
Uses for Your Freezer Items
- Bacon Freeze bacon in packages of a couple of slices each. Perfect to throw together a Spinach Salad, Potato Leek soup or a Pasta Carbonara
- Breadcrumbs These will last you a lot longer in the freezer and thaw quickly for use
- Chicken Breasts Freeze boneless, skinless chicken breasts in individual portions and you have a quick source of protein to add to Tortilla Soup and stir fry dishes. Alternatively, you can simply pan sear one and serve with a salad for a light and healthy dinner
- Chicken Thighs Freeze boneless, skinless chicken thighs in packages of 2 or more, depending on the size of you family. These flavorful gems can be braised or grilled whole, or cubed for a quick stew
- Chopped Spinach There’s a lot of spinach packed into a frozen 10oz box. It can be served as a side dish, seasoned with a little butter and lemon juice, or added to soups and stews for an added bit of nutritional punch
- Cooked Pasta With a little advance planning, you can cook pasta until it is just Means ‘to the tooth’ or just under-cooked al dente and freeze it in individual portions. A week-night supper on the fly takes just a few minutes to heat and combine with a delicious sauce
- Corn Can be added to soups, stews and sauces to add another serving of veggies into your daily intake
- Frozen Berries Are wonderful in smoothies and are extremely nutritious. They can also be combined with a little sugar (to taste) and boiled on the stove to create a quick sauce for ice cream
- Ground Beef or Ground Turkey An easy source of protein to add to pasta sauces, or form into patties for a quick burger
- Homemade Pasta Sauce Frozen in small batches, this can quickly be re-heated and served with the par-cooked pasta
- Ice Cream A pint (or two!) is always good to have on hand
- Nuts While officially a pantry item, the oils in nuts spoil quickly. Freezing them keeps the oils from going rancid (note: if they smell at all funny to you, throw them out. Rancid oils are extremely unhealthy)
- Over-Ripe Bananas Instead of throwing out a banana that is past its prime, freeze it to add to smoothies or for when the urge strikes to make Banana Bread
- Peas Wonderful as an addition to soups, stews and pasta dishes
- Peeled and De-Veined Shrimp Shrimp thaw quickly and serve the base for many wonderful dishes including stir fries, soups and pastas