All about staples. The food kind, not the office supply.
A couple weeks ago, I had a conversation with my friend Christian after he Googled “standard groceries” and “well-stocked kitchen” and came up empty-handed. I suggested “pantry staples” and did some searching on my own as to what a well-supplied pantry should have.
And when I saw Rachel of Food Maven had posted what she keeps her kitchen stocked with, I decided to do the same — because, again, I just love lists.
Not counting standard condiments and spices, we always have:
- coffee pods
- evaporated milk
- juice
- sugar (white and dark brown)
- unbleached white flour
- honey
- teas
- milk
- sandwich bread
- peanut butter
- Marshmallow Fluff
- carrots
- salted and unsalted butter
- garlic
- onions
- Parmigiano Reggiano
- 2 or 3 other cheeses
- seasonal fruits/vegetables (apples, potatoes, and winter squash, currently)
- cat food
- cereal and/or oatmeal
- medium-grain rice
- baking powder and baking soda
- olive and canola oils
- vinegars (usually balsamic, red wine, cider, and rice)
- canned beans
- canned tomatoes
- eggs
- peanuts and/or almonds
- some sort of meat
- tomato paste
- red wine
We usually have:
- Stella D’Oro breakfast treats
- cocoa powder and/or chocolate chips
- shallots
- sour cream
- brown rice
- guava paste
- Jarritos soda
- canned chiles
- jam/preserves
- dried pasta
- canned tuna
- lemons/limes
- kid-sized yogurts
- fritessaus
- bottled water
- lunch meat
- crackers
- bananas
- popsicles
- olives, pickles, cornichons, and/or capers
- candy
We sometimes have:
- tortilla chips, Kettle chips, or Pirate’s Booty
- frozen bagels
- whipped cream in a can
- ice cream
We rarely, if ever, have:
- fresh fruit/vegetables out of season (except bananas)
- frozen food/vegetables
- canned food/soup/vegetables
- pasta sauce in a jar
- salad dressing
- whole wheat flour
- soy “meats”
- anything with hydrogenated fat
- anything with high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweetener
We definitely never have:
- anything with red dye in it
- a reduced-fat or fat-free version of a regular food
- turnips
I really hope more people post this on their own blogs — it’s like an authorized snoop into your friends’ cabinets.
13 Comments
Ethan
Hey, nothing wrong with canned goods, with the probable exception of canned/jarred mushrooms. We are loaded (!) with canned tomatoes because the local grocery keeps putting the brand I like on “clearance.”
I might be inclined to play along with this meme in the making. At the very least I may post a photo of our canned goods from hell. Everyone feels the need to comment on it when they come over.
Kristen
I didn’t say there was anything wrong with them; I just don’t buy them.
rachel
Great lists…
I’ve been thinking about doing some posts on well stocked kitchens like for baking, asian cooking, general cooking, italian, etc.
Ethan
BTW, I’m with you re: soy “meats.” Either eat meat, or don’t.
Why no whole wheat flour? We don’t use it either, but just curious.
Kristen
When I was vegan/vegetarian, I had enough whole wheat (and soy meats) to last me a lifetime. Plus, I don’t think the slight nutritional advantage of whole wheat flour compensates for the fact it generally makes baked goods heavy and dry. No point in making a healthy cookie if no one wants to eat them.
Lisa B-K
I command you to JOIN THIS COMMUNITY:
http://community.livejournal.com/kitchenteriors/
Kristen
Girl, I think you love making new LJ communities even more than I do. And that is a lot.
___desdemona___
Question: Why nothing “with red dye in it”? Is red dye worse then say yellow, or is it just a personal preference?
Kristen
My kid is really sensitive to red food dye.
http://recipestoday.com/resources/articles/reddye.htm
___desdemona___
Ahhhhhhhhh, now it makes sense :-) Thanks for the link!