Kitchen Pantry Necessities

Whether you are a chef, a baker, or just someone who enjoys cooking, you spend a good amount of time in your kitchen. Think about how much time you spend shopping for the right ingredients only to come home and realize that one spice in the back of the cabinet is way past its expiration date. Having the right kitchen pantry necessities can turn that special dish into something extraordinary.

You will be whipping up tasty snacks and meals in no time with a well-stocked pantry by your side. Continue reading to learn more!

Bland dishes are boring, and usually, they get tossed out because nobody wants to eat them. Spice up your food by having a variety of spices and seasonings on hand in your pantry. Your local grocery store likely dedicates an entire aisle for seasoning, and you can even find spices you might have never tried before. With options available from places all over the world, you don’t have to cook without flavor.

Ask yourself:

The good news is that your grocery store has all of those items stocked. But if you need a little more help, here is a list of common spices and seasonings to have on hand:

You can’t perfect a great recipe without having the right oils. Your food would not have the great flavors oil adds, and it might stick to the pan or burn. Nobody wants to deal with that. Extra virgin olive oil is perfect to store within your pantry. It offers excellent flavor, lower calories, and some health benefits, such as being rich in "healthy monosaturated fats" according to Healthline.com.

Other cooking oils to have include vegetable oil, which is often used in baking. If you are adventurous, you might add sesame oil, avocado oil, or sunflower oil to your pantry. Using different types of oils in recipes can liven up your meals.

You have a pantry stocked with tasty oils, so don’t forget the vinegar! Like oil, there are a wide variety of different kinds of vinegar with different taste profiles. If you love making your own salad dressing, be sure to have balsamic vinegar handy.

Asian recipes often use rice vinegar to add some acidity and flavor. You also want to be sure to have white vinegar, red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and white wine vinegar. All of these types will give your recipes that added boost according to The Spruce.

Cupcakes, scones, muffins, and more are fun to bake and even more fun to eat. You don’t want to have your oven preheated only to find out you're running low on flour. Stock your kitchen pantry with these baking essentials:

What is a pantry without sweeteners for your desserts & baked goods? When it comes to sweeteners, you want to have:

Go for high-quality sugars and sweeteners, such as Grade A syrups and honey. You can also try organic sweeteners.

Dried goods, such as grains, are staples in a kitchen. They are easy to store and organize, too. You can keep them in clear plastic or glass jars with lids to keep pests out, food fresh, and easily visible in cabinets.

According to Food Network, grains you want to have ready for use include rice, couscous, bulgur wheat, breadcrumbs, grits and polenta, and pasta. You can also store dried peas or beans near your grains since these food items are often cooked together for meals and have similar storage requirements.

Canned goods are must-haves in the kitchen. When you come home from work and need to whip up a quick meal, canned goods might come to your rescue. Plus, if you lose power, you can safely eat canned goods without cooking them first.

Examples of canned, non-perishable items to keep in your pantry include canned:

When a snack attack happens, you want to be ready. Your pantry is the perfect spot to store your favorite snacks, such as:

Consider grouping similar items together in bins or baskets. Then label the bins so you can quickly find the snack you want.

One quick tip to help your weekly cooking routine go more smoothly is to take a little time over the weekend to plan out your meals. That way you can buy the items you need ahead of time & enjoy leftovers for a day or two, too. However, having common kitchen pantry items, and maybe some not-so-common items stocked in your cabinets will make cooking easier and tastier. Next time you go to the store, check this list to get inspired.