10 Most Essential Pantry Staples

Okay, you chefs out there, I need some shopping advice.

What 10 (or so) food items would you say that every cook needs in his or her kitchen at all times? What 10 items could be used to make the widest variety of recipes? I'm sick of looking up recipes and saying "Oh, I don't have... [something that sounds like everyone should have it in their cupboard]". We're on a limited budget, but I like to cook. However, I can't go out and buy an exotic ingredient just for one recipe, so I'd like to know what.. say.. a simple cookbook would assume every cook would have in the kitchen.

pasta!
broth or boillon, rice, canned veggies (whatever you like), cornstarch, chili powder, oregano, cinnamon, cumin.

That's what's important for us to have around at all times. I would also add curry powder to that list, but most people don't use it much.

i think parmigiano-reggiano is one luxury item that's truly worth the money. since you can use it on pasta or salads or just eat it like candy, it's pretty versatile.

i couldn't live without the stuff.

Here's a list I found somewhere else which is kind of what I'm talking about:

Individually wrapped rice crispie treats.

Emeril's Essence. BAM!

Save all your trimmings and skins from carrots, onions, celery ends , tomato bits ,garlic pieces, green parts of scallions etc..... in plastic gallon size freezer bags....pretty soon you will have enough to use to make a fine stock , either by itself , or to use when making beef or chicken stocks..

DO NOT save things like pepper trimming and seeds , broccoli or other brassica-type stalks trimmings etc... they are a bitter and pointless addition.

Grind your own Black pepper from whole peppercorns...you will not believe the difference from the insipid pre ground shit in cans.

well stocked spices which can be from 10 to 20 depending on what you like
dried beans of carious varieties
dried rice, white and either jamin or basmati
dried pasta
oil oil and peanut oil
balsamic vin
red win vin
canned tomatoes, whole so you can dice or crush depending on need
butter, butter , butter, cant say it enough
bread crumbs- i use panko a japaneese variety that is versitile
flour
white and brown sugar
and the most need is stock, or if you must stock base (bullion) the fresh stuff is always better and has less salt and usually no MSG

pasta
unbleached flour
sea salt
oregano
basil
cumin
red pepper flakes
vegetable stock paste
garlic powder
olive oil

butter
eggs
pasta
soy sauce ( I like Tamari)
canned tomatos
onions
garlic
good olive oil
white and brown sugar
cream
bacon
ground cheese such as pecorino Romano
kosher salt
limes
peppercorns w/grinder

other spices have been well covered above.

Also , buy the best quality knives you can afford...full tang, riveted knives made out of high carbon steel. Well worth the money spent and will be able to give them to your grandkids if you keep them in good shape...and really, i don't think you need a fancy-shmancy knife for every pupose... one good 8" chefs knife , one good carving knife, a paring knife , and a good serrated blade (for breads and squishy things like tomatoes)...should be about all you need. A nice flexible boning knife is cool too.

Pots and pans -- also buy the best quality you can afford ! a simple rule to go by , is that if you can't pick it up and be reasonably sure you could cave someone's cranium in with it...it's probably not worth your time. personally, I like All-Clad , and LeCreuset...pricey, but well worth it. A good place to pick up these on the semi-cheap , is a place like Marshall's where you can buy ones with a minor scratch at considerable discounts.

Alot of people are very enamored of woks..well, electric woks are useless , and unless you have the commercial kickass stove in your house , the average home stove has no where near the heat required to effectively put a wok at it's best advantages..and essentially steams instead of sauteing your food. You'll get much better results using a heavy saute pan and doing things in smaller batches.

that's a pretty good list...it's damn close to what i like to have in the cupboards. dried legumes are great to have around too (turtle beans, kidney beans, pintos...you can buy them in bulk and they don't cost much at all). i also like have a couple of different salts on hand too (fleur de sel, kosher, lava).


[Edited on Jan 10, 2005 by casper]

^ Yes!!!



in the cupboard:
olive oil (EVOO)
vegetable oil
white flour (unbleached, non rising)
sugar (brown and white)
salt
pepper
garlic powder
oregano
rosemary
chili powder
cinnamon
seasoned salt
worcestershire sauce
balsamic vinegar
kitchen bouquet (it's a marinade - great for beef - just use a little bit)
canned tomatoes
boullion cubes (beef and chicken)
or - canned broth (low sodium)
evaporated milk, fat free (useful as a substitute for cream or whole milk in most recipes)
onions
potatoes
fresh garlic

in the fridge:
milk
eggs
grated cheese (parmesan or reggiano)
sour cream
tomatoes
carrots
celery

I usually like to have a little bit of meat (ground beef, skinless chicken breasts, medium grade steak) in my freezer at all times. That way, I can make myself a full meal without going shopping. Shop the sales at your grocer's meat counter, save the meat for later! Always buy in bulk when buying spices, flour, sugar, etc. (Non perishables.)

Stock
Salt
Pepper (red and black)
Stock
Olive Oil
Soy Sauce
Flour
Garlic
Onion
Rice (at least one kind)
Canned Tomatoes
Eggs
Butter
Sugar
Lemon or Lime

Some Spices and Herbs:Cumin, Rosemary, Basil, Oregano, Paprika, Thyme, Parsley, Sage, Cinammon etc.

if you decide to buy a bunch of spices, these guys have really high-quality stuff, and you could get it all shipped at once.

Baked Beans...

I thought that said PANTY staples...

olive oil!!! good olive oil

salt, no salt no flavor..

two things will carry flavors across your palate, fats and salts.

without some fats and salts you will have bland food.(use these moderately though)

fresh herbs, usual basil, but I go thru stages with cilantro and mint as well.

i read through this and i wouldnt have imagined so many people would be so fancy

I don't know.. two men in the same hole?

No, no, no. My mind was in the gutter (like Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan in the picture...)

I cook for a living, and at home, and have at least 150 different items on hand. However, given your request, these are the most relevant for your situation, IMHO.

1. Kosher Salt (makes a difference, not expensive)
2. Olive Oil
3. Corn Meal (easy, very cheap side. call it polenta)
4. Pepper
5. Pasta
6. Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce (green top with rooster on bottle)
7. Rice Wine or Balsamic Vinegar
8. Butter
9. Parmesan (I get to expensive reggiano, but use a microplane, so it lasts)
10. Cavender's Greek Seasoning (cheap and effective)

I have never distracted anyone so my friend could borrow some from a restaurant. At All. Oh..Wait.

i like the already packaged seasoning packets. they have meatloaf, taco, stir fry everything so you dont have to buy a million little jars of everything that you dont know what to use with and they are really cheap
cream of _____ soups because like they show in the commercials you can use them with noodle/rice and meat dishes or they can make a pretty good meal themselves. they are also really cheap
tuna because you can do nearly everything with tuna

One is water and the other nine are Chef Boyardee.