Pantry inventory checklist
Updated · 6 min read
Taking stock of your pantry once tells you what to use up and what not to buy again. Keeping it up stops the third jar of cumin from ever happening. Here's a quick way to do it, and a checklist of the staples most kitchens keep.
Take stock in about 20 minutes
- Work one shelf at a time. Take everything off, wipe the shelf, and put things back grouped by type.
- Check dates as you go. Pull anything past its date, and put the soonest dates at the front.
- Write down what you have and roughly how much - "rice, half a bag" is plenty. Use the checklist below so nothing gets missed.
- Make two short lists: what to use up soon, and what's actually running low.
How often
- A quick look before each big shop - just the things you're about to buy.
- A full pass every few months, or with the seasons.
- Spices once a year. Ground spices lose flavor after about two to three years and whole spices after three to four; they're still safe, just weaker.
The checklist
Tick what you have, circle what's low. Print this page to use it on paper.
Baking
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar
- Brown sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Yeast
- Vanilla extract
- Cornstarch
- Chocolate chips
Grains, pasta and cereal
- Rice
- Pasta
- Oats
- Quinoa
- Breadcrumbs
- Crackers
- Cereal
- Tortillas
Canned and jarred
- Diced tomatoes
- Tomato sauce or paste
- Beans
- Broth or stock
- Tuna or chicken
- Soup
- Coconut milk
- Pasta sauce
- Peanut butter
- Jam
Oils, vinegars and sauces
- Olive oil
- Vegetable oil
- Cooking spray
- Vinegar
- Soy sauce
- Hot sauce
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayonnaise
- Honey
Spices and seasonings
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Chili powder
- Oregano
- Basil
- Cinnamon
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
Snacks and drinks
- Nuts
- Dried fruit
- Popcorn
- Granola bars
- Coffee
- Tea
- Shelf-stable milk
More guides
- Pantry staples for a first kitchenWhat to buy first when you're stocking a kitchen from scratch - the short list of staples that covers most everyday meals, plus what to add later and what to skip.
- How to organize your spices (and know when they're too old)Simple ways to organize a spice cabinet or drawer so you can find what you need, how long spices keep their flavor, and how to stop buying the same jar twice.
- How to stop buying duplicate groceriesWhy we keep buying things we already have, and seven simple habits - from shopping your pantry first to one shared household list - that stop it.