I’ve been cooking for myself for a while now, but I still remember the feeling I had the first time I was able to make chocolate chip cookies without making a special trip to the store. I felt like a competent chef and housekeeper—I had flour, sugar and eggs on hand all at the same time, without even planning it! Of course I always had chocolate chips; duh.
I wanted to feel like a competent homemaker as often as possible. So once we were settled in our house, I compiled a list of the best things to always have on hand. Warning: it’s very long.
- Baking powder (non aluminum)
- Baking soda
- Cocoa
- Vinegars (rice, red, cider)
- Flour
- Cornmeal
- Molasses (unsulfured)
- Vanilla extract
- Shortening
- Sugar (white & brown)
- Vegetable oil
- Peppercorns for grinder
- Ground nutmeg (or nutmeg nuts)
- Garlic powder (or fresh garlic)
- Rosemary
- Bay leaves
- Basil
- Sage
- Thyme
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Curry powder
- Sea salt
- Pasta (lasagna, macaroni, spaghetti, linguine/fettucine)
- Pasta sauces (spaghetti, alfredo)
- Chicken broth
- Beef broth
- Chocolate chips!
- Dessert mixes (cake/brownie)
- Jiffy mixes (muffins & pizzas)
- Crushed tomatoes
- Diced tomatoes
- Whole stewed tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Pineapple
- Applesauce (especially for Hayden!)
- Black beans
- Chili beans (though I usually just use black beans now)
- Pickles (dill, sweet relish/cubes)
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- Evaporated milk
- Enchilada sauce
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Cereals
- Bread (with one in the freezer)
- Bisquick
- Whole oats
- Tortillas
- Salsa
- Soy sauce
- Ketchup
- Mustard (yellow, dijon)
- Honey
- Peanut butter
- Macaroni & cheese
- Syrup
- Jams
- Ranch dressing
- Italian dressing
- Mayonnaise
- Lemon juice
- Milk
- Butter (unsalted)
- Eggs
- Cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, ricotta, American, Parmesan)
- Lunchmeats
- Veggies (lettuce, carrots, green onion, peppers)
- Yogurt
- Yeast
- Chicken
- Beef (ground, steak)
- Bacon
- Frozen veggies (broccoli, mixed, peas)
- Frozen juices
- Tuna
- Corn
- Green beans
- Cream of chicken soup
- Canned fruits (pears, peaches or salad)
- Rice
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Obviously, this list is suited to our tastes and our household. It’s designed to create a “home grocery store” (and/or a year’s supply) so that I can create most of our family’s favorite recipes at a moment’s notice (or, for slow cooker meals, several hours’ notice…)
What’s essential in your house?
13 replies on “The essential well-stocked kitchen supply list”
I love this list – I actually just made one for us here! Some of our essentials would have to be granola bars (for the kids), tea bags and sugar for sweet tea (my hubby) and frozen broccoli (for me). Thanks for sharing!
Perfect, I have request coming in for this sort of thing I’ll link your list if its o.k. with you.
@Donetta—Of course, you’re always welcome to link here!
Great idea … I will do this. Musts in our house — in addition to everything on your list, just about, right now with two toddlers we have to have at least these: fruit bars, blueberries, dried or fresh but not frozen, refried black beans, colby jack sticks, edamame, bisquick, peanut butter, Nutella (yum!), couscous, potatoes, and Krusteaz muffin mixes.
cool post. i heart food.
If we’re talking “essential” then chocolate & walnuts have to be on mine. Chocolate for little man & walnuts for me
It’s a pretty good list. I have almost all of this (I use the stockpiling method of doing groceries). I didn’t see pudding or Jello, but I might have missed them.
My husband and I both love to cook, so we’ve got most of the things on your list. I’d have to add all my Asian stuff though – soy sauce, oyster sauce, tofu, hoisin sauce, lemon grass, galangal, shiitake mushrooms, coconut milk, Thai chili sauce… All must-have’s in my kitchen.
I have a very similar list.
Dang, mama! That is quite a list! I can’t think of anything I would add.
The essential well-stocked kitchen supply list | MamaBlogga…
A great list of the things every well stocked kitchen should have on hand. At the very minimum…..CHOCOLATE CHIPS! ;)…
you are an inspiration! I am going to print this and add and subtract. I voted for you on motherapproves!
In the last few years, I kept seeing warnings to “stock up” in case of pandemic and quarantine. Having your house well stocked with a list like this is great. Mine would be similar. (I just baked banana bread without leaving the house for single thing, including the bananas.)
Oh! I would expand the flour list — I keep all-purpose, wheat, and bread flour in my cupboard.