Simple Ways to Keep a Well-Stocked Kitchen

by Jen Tilley on January 21st, 2011 | 2 Comments »

As you probably already know, one of the greatest money savers is cooking at home. Although, sometimes this might be hard for you to believe, especially when you open up your cookbooks and see recipes that require well over 20 ingredients. But, did you know that you can prepare tasty, simple foods at home easily and quickly and with minimal cost involved?

Oftentimes, people do not keep a well-stocked kitchen so they tend to buy a lot of ingredients all at once. When this happens, the idea of cooking at home comes off as being incredibly expensive. As long as you keep a well-stocked kitchen full of main cooking essentials, your meals will be easier to cook and also less expensive over time.

Below you will find a shopping list for the bare-bone kitchen essentials. Basically, if you have these in your kitchen, you should be well-prepared to produce many dishes. By having these on-hand, your shopping will be reduced to buying perishables, including meats, cheeses and fruits.

Baking

All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Baking soda
Brown sugar
Cornmeal
Cornstarch
Vanilla
White sugar
Yeast

Herbs and Spices

Basil
Black pepper
Cayenne pepper
Cinnamon
Garlic
Nutmeg
Oregano
Rosemary
Sage
Salt
Tarragon
Thyme

Oils, Stocks, Condiments

Balsamic vinegar
Beef stock
Chicken stock
Extra virgin olive oil
Mustard (Dijon preferably)
Olive oil
Parmesan cheese
Red wine
Red wine vinegar
Sherry
Soy sauce
Tomato paste
Vegetable oil
Vinegar
White wine

Additional Items

Butter
Canned beans
Frozen vegetables
Garlic
Lemons
Milk
Onions
Pasta
Rice

As long as you make sure to keep many or all of these items in your kitchen, this list will definitely help you create a variety of great dishes at home for a minimal cost. Many of the items listed above also last for a long time which means fewer trips to the store.

What do you usually keep in your cupboards, pantries and refrigerators that serve as essential cooking ingredients?

Jen Tilley has an insatiable appetite for all things related to baking and cooking. She is the author, photographer and recipe developer on How To: Simplify, a blog that shares tips, tricks and recipes to simplify life in the kitchen. She enjoys sharing recipes that require very few ingredients and only a small amount of prep and cook time, all of which make time spent in the kitchen simple and enjoyable. Find her online at How To: Simplify and @HowToSimplify.