Pantry staples for a first kitchen
Updated · 5 min read
Stocking a kitchen from nothing - a first apartment, a move, or just starting to cook - can feel like it needs a giant shopping trip. It doesn't. A short list of versatile staples covers most everyday meals, and you can add the rest as recipes call for it.
Start with these
Grains and starches
- Rice
- Pasta
- Oats
- Bread or tortillas
- Potatoes
Cans and jars
- Canned tomatoes
- Canned beans
- Broth
- Peanut butter
- Canned tuna
Oils, vinegar and sauces
- Olive oil
- Neutral oil (vegetable or canola)
- Vinegar
- Soy sauce
- Hot sauce or salsa
Seasonings
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
Baking basics
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
Fridge and freezer
- Eggs
- Butter
- Milk
- Cheese
- Onions and garlic
- Frozen vegetables
- Frozen chicken or ground meat
Add as you go
Buy these when a recipe you actually want to make calls for them: cumin, paprika, cinnamon, honey, mustard, mayonnaise, coconut milk, lentils, quinoa, brown sugar and vanilla. Building the pantry one recipe at a time means nothing sits unused.
Skip for now
- Big spice sets - half the jars go stale before you use them.
- Single-use sauces and specialty ingredients for one recipe.
- Bulk-size anything until you know how fast you go through it.
Tools that make the staples useful
A large pot, a skillet, a sheet pan, a sharp chef's knife, a cutting board, measuring cups and a few storage containers will cook almost anything on this list.
More guides
- Pantry inventory checklistA printable pantry checklist by category - baking, grains, canned goods, oils, spices and more - plus how to take stock in 20 minutes and keep it up.
- What to make when there's "nothing to eat"Eight easy dinner formulas built from pantry staples - pasta, rice, beans, eggs, tortillas - so a few cans and a box of something become a real meal.
- 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.