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I’ve always loved the idea of being able to walk into my kitchen and whip up anything I’m in the mood for. Maybe some fresh bread, hearty soup, a quick pasta dish, some cookies to go with my coffee, whatever I want. But to do this, I'd need to have the right ingredients on hand.
Recently, I was thinking about what I would need to have in my pantry if I wanted to be able to cook anything I want at any time. Of course, I already have plenty of from-scratch ingredients like flour, sugar, rice, pasta, salt, pepper, and so forth. But you can only cook so many dishes with those ingredients. What if I wanted to be able to cook practically anything?
That thought wouldn't go away, and I ended up making a list of 100 shelf-stable ingredients that can cover thousands of dishes. Seriously, if you keep these ingredients in your pantry, you'll be able to cook pretty much any recipe you can find on AllRecipes.com. Whether you’re baking from scratch, cooking for a crowd, or just throwing something together, you’ll be set.
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To keep it organized, I divided my list into the following categories:
- Grains & Starches
- Legumes & Pulses
- Baking Essentials
- Oils & Fats
- Spices & Seasonings
- Condiments & Sauces
- Canned & Jarred Foods
- Dried & Dehydrated Goods
Grains & Starches
- Barley
- Breadcrumbs
- Brown Rice
- Cornmeal
- Cornstarch
- Couscous
- Crackers
- Elbow Macaroni
- Flour (All-Purpose)
- Instant Mashed Potatoes
- Penne Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice Noodles
- Rolled Oats
- Self-Rising Flour
- Spaghetti
- White Rice
Legumes & Pulses
- Canned Baked Beans
- Canned Black Beans
- Canned Chickpeas
- Canned Kidney Beans
- Dried Black Beans
- Dried Chickpeas
- Dried Lentils
- Dried Pinto Beans
- Split Peas
Baking Essentials
- Active Dry Yeast
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Brown Sugar
- Cocoa Powder
- Cornstarch
- Evaporated Milk
- Honey
- Maple Syrup
- Molasses
- Powdered Milk
- Powdered Sugar
- Sugar (White)
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Vanilla Extract
Oils & Fats
- Coconut Oil
- Ghee
- Olive Oil
- Peanut Butter
- Shortening
- Vegetable Oil
Spices & Seasonings
- Basil
- Bay Leaves
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Curry Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Italian Seasoning
- Nutmeg
- Onion Powder
- Oregano
- Paprika
- Salt
- Thyme
Condiments & Sauces
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Bottled Lemon Juice
- Hot Sauce
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Soy Sauce
- Tomato Paste
- Tomato Sauce
- White Vinegar
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Canned Diced Tomatoes
- Canned Whole Tomatoes
Canned & Jarred Foods
- Canned Applesauce
- Canned Butter
- Canned Carrots
- Canned Cheese
- Canned Chicken
- Canned Corn
- Canned Fruit Cocktail
- Canned Green Beans
- Canned Ground Beef
- Canned Mixed Vegetables
- Canned Mushrooms
- Canned Peas
- Canned Pineapple
- Canned Potatoes
- Canned Pumpkin
- Canned Spam
- Canned Tuna
- Jarred Olives
- Jarred Pickles
Dried & Dehydrated Goods
- Dried Garlic
- Dried Onion
- Dates
- Instant Broth (Chicken or Beef Bouillon)
- Powdered Butter
- Powdered Eggs
With these 100 shelf-stable ingredients in your pantry, you’ll be ready to cook just about anything you want. It’s a great feeling to know that no matter what’s going on outside, you’ve got the tools to feed yourself and your family well. Remember to rotate your ingredients, and don't buy anything you definitely won't use. Happy cooking!
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