We haven’t really been cooking regularly for that long. Back in the Philippines, we barely had any time to cook our own meals. When we moved to New Zealand, we stayed in a small studio apartment that didn’t have much storage and kitchen space. We only started having regular weekend cooking sessions when we transferred to a bigger space with a decent kitchen and pantry area. Since then, I always made sure that our pantry is stocked with the essentials – aside from the usual salt, pepper, cooking oil and olive oil.
Grains
- Rice (we’re Filipinos and we love our rice)
- Muesli / Granola
- Pasta
- Bread
Spices (We do have a bunch of spices, but these are the top ones)
- Italian seasoning
- Paprika
- Chilli flakes
- Coriander powder
Condiments / Sauces
- Soy sauce
- Vinegar
- Aioli or mayonnaise
- Ketchup
- Pizza sauce (we have pizza almost every weekend)
- Honey
Baking
- Flour
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Butter
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Vanilla
Canned Food
- Canned tomatoes
- Cream
Bonus
- Cheese (either parmesan or mozzarella)
- Potatoes
- Onion
- Garlic
So there’s my list of essentials for a well-stocked pantry. Vegetables, fruits and meat vary, depending on the season and the price. Additional ingredients for baking can also change up. How about you? Any pantry staple that you use that’s not on my list? Happy cooking! 💜
