Basic Pantry
In case of an emergency, it’s important to have a variety of shelf-stable foods on hand that can be eaten cold or hot.
Keep an eye on the best-before dates and try to use foods before they hit the date. Keep things organized. Rotate your stock regularly by putting fresh supplies to the back of the cupboard and bringing forward the oldest items to get used first.
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Essential Baking Items:
- All-Purpose Flour
- Sugar (white and brown)
- Salt
- Yeast, active dry or instant
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
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Essential Foods for Cooking and Snacking:
- Dried Fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots, coconuts)
- Nuts and Seeds (almonds, cashews, walnuts, sunflower seeds, flax seeds)
- Granola Bars
- Cookies
- Crackers or Tortilla Chips
- Shelf-Stable Milk, dairy or non-dairy, canned or tetra pack and powdered (skim milk powder, evaporated milk, almond milk, rice milk, etc.)
- Canned Fruit (pineapples, pears, peaches, mandarin oranges, applesauce)
- Fruit and Vegetable Juice (orange, tomato, apple, etc.)
- Canned Vegetables (corn, mixed vegetables, potatoes, pumpkin)
- Tomato Canned Products (whole or diced, stewed, tomato paste, tomato sauce, pizza and pasta sauce, salsa)
- Canned Beans or Dried Beans (black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc.)
- Broth or Stock, Tetra pack, canned or bouillon cubes (chicken, beef or vegetable)
- Canned Meat (ham, chicken or turkey)
- Canned Fish (tuna, salmon, sardines, shrimp)
- Canned Soups, Chili or Stew
- Dried Pasta (spaghetti, macaroni or lasagna)
- Rice (wild, brown, white)
- Nut Butters (peanut, almond, nut-free)
- Cereals (porridge-style and ready-to-eat)
- Salad Dressing
- Bread (buns, bread, tortillas, naan, pitas)
- Oil (canola, olive, grapeseed)
- Bottled Water
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Baby Items:
- Packaged Infant Food and Formula
- Diapers
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Condiments:
- Vinegar
- Mustard
- BBQ Sauce
- Ketchup
- Relish
- Mayonnaise
- Asian Sauces (soy, teriyaki, hoisin)
- Herbs and Spices
- Pancake Syrup
- Jam or Jelly
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Frozen Food:
- Vegetables
- Fruit
- Fish
- Chicken
- Beef
- Pork
- Frozen Meat Products (burger patties, meatballs)
- Potatoes (hash browns, French fries)
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Essential Kitchen Gadgets:
- Kitchen Scissors
- Can Opener
- Knives
- Cutting Board
- Spoons
- Paper Towels
- Paper Plates
- Plastic Cups
- Saucepan
- Spatula
- Ladle
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Essential Miscellaneous Household Items:
- Matches
- Candles
- Disinfecting Bleach
- Hand Sanitizer
- Dish Soap or Dishwasher Detergent
- Bucket
- Laundry Detergent
- Toilet Paper
- Disinfecting Wipes
- Dog, Cat and/or Other Pet Food
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Nice to Have Items:
- Cake Mix
- Chocolate Chips
- Baking Chocolate
- Sweetened or Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- Instant Pudding
- Marshmallows
- Antipasto
- Molasses
- Candy
- Popcorn Seeds
Need Recipe Ideas?
For quick and easy recipe ideas that use these pantry staples, visit our menu page.