Stocking your Pantry
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Stocking your pantry? This post will explain just what you might need. By taking the time to organize and buy some basics now it will help so much especially when you are planning a recipe and know that the needed ingredients will be there. No need to make an extra trip to the store if you plan ahead.
What exactly is a Pantry?
According to Wikipedia, a pantry is a room where beverages, food, and sometimes dishes are stored with the kitchen nearby. Having a separate pantry in your kitchen eliminates the need to store your food and staples in your drawers and cupboards which then gives you more storage in your kitchen.
Having this designated area can help so much with the organization in your kitchen and know exactly what you have on hand. Your pantry doesn’t have to be spacious, just well organized.
Well-Stocked Pantry with Spices
Spices are the ingredients added to most recipes in cooking as well as baking that give your dish or baked item the delicious flavor that you love. Most people will have salt & pepper in their supplies but why not branch out a bit and see what else can be added to recipes? This chart from NC State Extension below shows the name of the spice and what exactly it is used for. This chart can help you in deciding what you might want to choose to start preparing meals in your own kitchen.
Chart.
Depending On what type of cooking and how much cooking you will do will help determine the ingredients for your list to stock your pantry.
Baking spices for the Well-Stocked Pantry
Baking spices can also be added to your list which will give you a pantry that has the ingredients ready to start your favorite baking.
According to the website Allrecipes.com there are 9 basic essentials for baking & I will share the list of spices in this post . Check the basic spice list below and you can decide which of the basics you might want to start with to add to your pantry.
Basic spices
Ground cinnamon seems to top the list of the one ground spice every baker has on hand. What else you stock depends on what you like to make. For example, you might like ground cloves, allspice, and ginger to go along with the cinnamon. (Think pumpkin pie.) If nutmeg is on your basic list, you should always buy it whole and grate it yourself right before you use it. A smart way to buy spices in bulk: You’re only getting a little at a time so they don’t get stale and lose their flavor.
Next level spices
Ground spices are convenient, but for the absolute freshest flavors, you might explore grinding your own whole spices yourself using a mortar and pestle, a coffee grinder, or a Microplane grater. To amp things up, even more, toast the spices briefly before grinding. Check out these different types of grinders for all of your bulk spices.
Now that I have covered spices for cooking and baking I will include a list of items that a well-stocked pantry should also have. Just remember you certainly don’t have to go out and buy these items all at once. But if an item happens to be on sale be sure to pick it up. Prices as well as availability can be seasonal. While people still bake in the summer baking ingredients are a good example that can be easily found in the fall of the year as stores get ready for Holiday baking!
Here is the list that you can look over and work on to get that pantry well stocked !
Canned Foods:
- tomatoes-diced
- tomato sauce
- creamed soups ( chicken, celery, mushroom)
- broth ( chicken, beef, vegetable)
- canned vegetables
- tuna
- beans ( cannoli, red)
Condiments
- ketchup
- mustard
- mayonnaise
- vinegar
- red wine vinegar
- bbq sauce
- soy aauce
- worcestershire sauce
- pickles
- olives
- peanut butter
- honey
- light corn syrup
Dry Goods
- rice
- oatmeal
- pasta
- crackers
- cereal
- pinto beans
- black beans
- popcorn
- quinoa
- ramen noodles
Baking items
- Flour
- sugar
- brown sugar
- powdered sugar
- yeast
- baking powder
- baking soda
- dry milk
- canned milk
- vanilla extract
- jello
- pudding
- cocoa powder
- chocolate chips
- raisins
- nuts
As you can see this list has a lot of items but I’m sure some of your basics might be different then what is found here. A good idea is to sit down and do a little meal planning or just write down some of your favorite things you like to eat. By making this list you can add what ingredients you need to your grocery list that week.
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How do I store things in my Pantry?
Storage & organizing are the 2 reasons some people hesitate to tackle a pantry job. But by getting your ingredients and investing in some storage containers you will have your pantry stocked in no time. Some of the containers I like are included below.
