Stocking your kitchen with pantry basics is not an easy task, especially if you’re still in the apartment rental stage in your life where you move every couple of years.
Every time I’ve ever moved into a new apartment, I’ve accompanied the move with a rather pricey grocery shop because I was never properly stocking my kitchen with pantry basics.
When you move from one apartment to the other, even if you try hard to take your non-perishables with you, you will still have plenty on your shopping list.
If you’re moving into your first place, your list will be even longer.
And finally, if you aren’t moving but have decided to do something about the embarrassingly bare cupboards in your kitchen, you will definitely have your work cut out for you.
Stock your pantry with the basics first, the extras second.
So you might be wondering now: what are pantry basics?
Do I mean things like cereal, frozen bagels and Lean Cuisines?
Absolutely not.
If you don’t like to cook, those might be your pantry basics.
But if you don’t like to cook or even want to learn, you probably wouldn’t be reading this in the first place.
Pantry basics, in my expert-but-humble opinion, are the raw ingredients that you can use to create frequent, tasty breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
We’re talking the no-frills stuff you buy when they’re on sale regardless of whether you need them right now because you know you will again – and soon.
Canned Beans
Regardless of what type of beans you like, canned beans are cheap, easy to cook in soups, stews or on their own atop salads.
At any given time I typically have garbanzo beans, black beans and white beans in my pantry, with pinto beans and red kidney beans frequently appearing for chili or Mexican-style recipes.
Butter
Even if you eat lightly most of the time, butter is one of those things that I only seem to need when I don’t have it.
So, I try to always keep a package of salted and unsalted butter frozen.
It thaws relatively quickly once you remove it from the freezer so you’ll never be without it if the mood to bake should strike.
Chicken/Vegetable/Beef Stock
Here is the thing.
A lot of people sing the praises of homemade stock.
And I agree that it is ten times better than store bought. But that doesn’t make the store bought version bad.
Look for a brand that doesn’t use any artificial chemicals or additives and keep some type of stock on hand at all times. You can use it for cooking rice, vegetables or as a low-calorie base for soups and sauces.
Tomato paste
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve passed tomato paste in the grocery store only to get home and realize I had a recipe that called for it and none on my shelves.
It costs less than a dollar a can – easy to stock up on.
If you don’t use it often, opt for tomato paste in a tube so you can recap it and store in the fridge between recipes.
Assorted Vinegars
White wine vinegar is a staple in my kitchen for salad dressings and sauces – it can brighten up a dish without adding a heavy flavor.
I also like balsamic vinegar, but recommend a higher quality one.
Balsamic vinegar is potent and flavorful so a little bit goes a long way no matter how you use it.
Canned Tomatoes
I know that there are a lot of studies out there that will tell you canned tomatoes have all sorts of toxins that will give you cancer and kill you.
But, there are also studies that deem them safe and they sure are convenient for soups, sauces, stews and more during the tomato off-season.
I like Muir Glen and San Marzano and try to always keep a can or two of diced, crushed and whole tomatoes on hand for pasta sauces, lasagnas and more.
Eggs
When in doubt. yes, making eggs qualifies as cooking.
I know many people who think they can’t cook when they can, in fact, make a killer omelet with a few eggs and whatever veggies happen to be in the fridge.
Keep a carton on hand at all times and you’ll never be without a meal.
Olive Oil
When I asked for your favorite pantry staples on Twitter, almost everyone said that olive oil was one of the most important parts of their kitchen.
Olive oil is true to its name – oil obtained from pressed olives – and is used primarily for sautéing and in salad dressings.
Olive oils have a smoke point of 350 F, which means if it’s heated higher than that, it will burn.
It has a pronounced taste and choosing an olive oil can be similar to selecting a wine – the flavor of the many different varieties vary considerably.
Which brings me to our giveaway…
Giveaway (NOW CLOSED)
To help you stock up on pantry basics, I’m giving away one of Nudo’s Colosseum Collection (pictured above, ARV: $30) – a set of three herbed olive oils. They are all made from 100% natural, high quality, locally sourced ingredients – no artificial flavors or anything like that.
The Rules:
- Leave a comment here that answers the following questions: what is your favorite way to use olive oil?
- Anonymous comments: leave your email address in the comment field so I can reach you.
- 1 random winner will be chosen by Friday, April 15 at 11:59PM CST and announced by Monday, April 18. I will notify you via email and you will have 72 hours to respond before I choose a new winner.
- Contest open to US & Canada Residents only.
For Additional Entries:
- Re-tweet the following message: Want to win a set of Nudo olive oils from In Good Taste today? (cc @mariscallahan). Share your favorite recipe here: http://bit.ly/azhGY2.
- Become a fan of In Good Taste on Facebook.
- Suggest that your friends become a fan of In Good Taste on Facebook.
- Please leave one comment for each entry.
Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by Nudo. I was not provided with complimentary product or compensation of any kind. The words and opinions expressed here are my own.
81 Comments
rhonda
June 24, 2013 at 5:09 pmI use olive oil a lot when I roast vegetables…Yummy, it’s my favorite and is definitely a must have in my kitchen, it works so well with so many dishes.
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Sario
April 27, 2011 at 5:54 pmI’d have to say, drizzled over a light soup. Really perks up the flavor!
brandi
April 26, 2011 at 7:41 pmI “like” you on FB – I was sure I already had! 🙂
brandi
April 26, 2011 at 7:40 pmThat’s a great starter list for a pantry – all things I use on a regular basis!
My favorite way to use olive oil (lately) is drizzled on homemade popcorn on the stove top and sprinkled with salt.
I also love to make salad dressings with it. They’re so much tastier than bottled!
Pistachio-Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates
April 18, 2011 at 2:36 am[…] GIVEAWAY WINNER: Congratulations to Lisa from The Dishes of Mrs. Fish! Thanks to everyone who entered to win a set f Nudo olive oils. […]
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
April 15, 2011 at 9:05 pmGreat list of basics, Maris! What a smart and useful article. Let’s see… My favorite way to use olive oil is any way I can actually taste it distinctly, like in bruschetta or a salad. Thanks for sharing. I hope you have a great weekend!
Gabe
April 15, 2011 at 3:47 pmMaking crispy roast potatoes. They are one of my favorite foods.
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
April 15, 2011 at 3:06 pmI love to coat steaks with olive oil before grilling.
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective
April 15, 2011 at 12:57 pmI like to drizzle olive oil over everything to finish it!
Baking Serendipity
April 15, 2011 at 2:55 amOlive oil is definitely one of my pantry staples. My easy go-to weeknight meal is roasted veggies tossed with pasta, olive oil and freshly grated parmesan cheese. I rely on it more than I should admit 🙂 The herb flavors in this oil sound great!
Vivienne
April 15, 2011 at 1:00 amgreat pantry tips 🙂 such a bummer when you’re cooking to find out you’re missing the staple/basics like butter haha! the only thing i dont keep in my pantry are canned beans…i don’t know what to do with them as didn’t grow up eating beans. I must get me some to try soon as im sure they make hearty and healthy meals!
aww wish i was in the US or Canada! i think i use olive oil is almost every meal – love them in my baking too in place of some of the butter!
MegSmith @ Cooking.In.College
April 14, 2011 at 8:57 pmCouldn’t agree more! This post was great, reminded me I needed to stock up on a few things. Awesome giveaway too!
My favorite use of olive oil has to be simply dipping warm salty bread into it 🙂
Cassie
April 14, 2011 at 6:41 pmI use olive oil in almost all of my cooking and sauteeing, and all of my salad dressings (hot and cold salads). Olive oil is also the best for bread dips and drizzling over finished pastas. One of the best pasta sauces is olive oil, butter, garlic and crushed red peppers 🙂
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday
April 14, 2011 at 2:36 pmI like to dip homemade ciabatta in olive oil.
Barbara
April 14, 2011 at 11:10 amSuper pantry tips, Maris. A must-copy for anyone starting out in the kitchen.
Don’t quite know where to start out with uses for olive oil….every day, every way, But if I have to pick a favorite, it’s when I roast vegetables. I toss them in olive oil and then roast in a hot oven.
Nice giveaway!
polwig
April 13, 2011 at 10:46 pmI love olive oil infused with herbs and dipped in bread… or bread dipped in olive oil with parmesan and splash of balsamic… Bread and olive oil= heaven
Olga @ MangoTomato
April 14, 2011 at 2:12 amcompletely agree with you on always have canned beans and fresh eggs on hand. I feel the same way about tuna and canned tomatoes.
Olive oil: love it in salads, for sauteeing and just to dip pieces of bread.
Reeni
April 14, 2011 at 1:15 amWhat great tips! Olive oil would be at the top of my list – I can’t go a day without using it. I love it to make salad dressings!
Allison @ Running With Mascara
April 13, 2011 at 8:28 pmJust “liked” your FB page!
Allison @ Running With Mascara
April 13, 2011 at 8:25 pmI love using olive oil to make crispy tofu!
Susan
April 13, 2011 at 7:57 pmI just Liked you on Facebook too.
Susan
April 13, 2011 at 7:55 pmI use olive oil almost every day! My favorite use is to lightly coat some veggies or potatoes with olive oil and roast them in the oven. Great pantry list and great giveaway!
Dmarie
April 13, 2011 at 7:45 pmfavorite way that is perhaps unconventional is to drizzle a little olive oil atop a grocery-bought pizza. gives commercially prepared pizzas a little extra Italian oomph in flavor but also makes it a little healthier by adding healthy monounsaturated fat.
thanks for this chance to win!
Cookin' Canuck
April 13, 2011 at 6:28 pmThis is a great series, Maris! I have yet to try the Nudo olive oils, but did the adopt-a-tree program for my mum for Christmas. My favorite way to use a good, fruity olive oil is over sun-warmed tomatoes and basil from our garden. It makes me yearn for our summer crop.
Deeba
April 13, 2011 at 2:24 pmAgree a 100% about tomato paste, eggs and olive oil. I make my own veggie stock and store it in the fridge. Love the giveaway. Do throw my name in the hat if a US address works. Thank you!
marla
April 13, 2011 at 12:49 pmMaris, excellent tips for a well stocked pantry. I have never seen that olive oil before & would love to be included in this awesome giveaway. I use OO all the time in my cooking & baking.
Blond Duck
April 13, 2011 at 10:54 amHappy Wednesday!
Roz
April 13, 2011 at 3:47 amLOVE this list of basics! I like to drizzle olive oil on fresh picked tomatoes in the summer, and top it with a bit of salt and fresh basil. Hurry up summer!!!
Kate@Diethood.com
April 13, 2011 at 3:53 amThat is one great list… thank you for posting!
I use olive oil to dress my salads on a daily basis… I can’t live without my ten or twelve different olive oil bottles. 🙂
Serena
April 12, 2011 at 11:43 pmI so agree with the tomato paste and canned beans! My mother can’t live without those two and frankly, I can’t either.
I love to drizzle olive oil on homemade whole-wheat pizza or on a piece of fresh baked french bread from the bakery near us… sigh. So yummy!
Karen
April 12, 2011 at 11:28 pmYour blog is wonderful and I love this post– it rings true all around! Olive oil is definitely a staple in my apartment (#2 and I’m in my late 20’s, so don’t feel bad!) and I use it ALL the time for just about everything! My favorite way to use it is as a dipping oil with salt and pepper and parmesean and my favorite baguette 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win your lovely prize!
lisa keys
April 12, 2011 at 10:54 pmI drizzle olive oil on just about everything but especially love it in a lemon cake that I bake from time to time
Daryl
April 13, 2011 at 12:45 pmYou must share this lemon cake recipe. Perhaps a guest post on In Good Taste!
Tara
April 12, 2011 at 10:50 pmI became a fan on FB
Tara
April 12, 2011 at 10:49 pmI tweeted!
Tara
April 12, 2011 at 10:46 pmMy favorite way to use olive oil is just mixed with balsamic and dipping warm, fresh bread into it. Deeelish.
Anne
April 12, 2011 at 9:39 pmI have been planning on trying the olive oil cake that’s been circling the blogosphere…I have a feeling that could be a new favorite! But until then, I love it in marinades for meat or as a way to roast vegetables by drizzling it all over the veggies.
Stephanie
April 12, 2011 at 9:22 pmGreat post on pantry basics! I use olive oil all the time for sauteing. I guess my favorite use would be good quality olive oil eaten just plain on good bread!
mzt1
April 12, 2011 at 8:11 pmI love to use a good quality olive oil in small amounts for salads as well as for cooking sauteed baby spinach with fresh garlic!
Jennifer
April 12, 2011 at 8:05 pmRight now it’s fresh arugula and mache from the garden drizzled with Extra Virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice and sprinkled with peccorino and sea salt. It will be something different when the summer veggies come in. Mmmmm……
lynn @ the actor's diet
April 12, 2011 at 7:35 pma good olive oil can make all the difference in a salad – i love using it to dress greens!
John
April 12, 2011 at 7:07 pmBest way to use olive oil – pour it in a plate, add salt and pepper and dip fresh warm Italian bread in it. Not much of a recipe, but sure is quick…as long as you can find someone to make the bread.
Kate
April 12, 2011 at 6:47 pmSuch a great call regarding the commandments. I have now had to re-stock twice (New York and Charlottesville). My husband and I are moving to North Carolina this summer (once he graduates business school) and we will be stocking our pantry yet again…might need to print our your list 🙂
I use olive oil almost everyday in the kitchen from pastas, to dips and for sauteing…but my favorite way to use olive oil is for beauty! I oftentime use it as an eye make-up remover if I have run out or to condition my cuticles if I am long overdue for a manicure 🙂
5 Star foodie
April 12, 2011 at 12:27 pmGreat tips for the pantry and a great giveaway. I like to make an olive oil balsamic vinegar dip for the freshly baked bread.
Barbara @ Modern Comfort Food
April 12, 2011 at 5:25 pmWhat a genius idea for a food blog, and your 10 commandments are totally on target. Where were you when I needed you… oh, about 38 year ago? Really (really) well done, Maris!
Rosa
April 12, 2011 at 5:18 pmGreat tips! I am a real squirrel when it comes to stocking food. My pantry is explosing.
Cheers,
Rosa
Hannah Q.
April 12, 2011 at 4:53 pmI use olive oil just about everyday, but my favorite use lately is in an orange zest olive oil cake! So divine.
Megan
April 12, 2011 at 4:38 pmI’m a FB fan!
Emily
April 12, 2011 at 4:36 pmWe use olive oil in a lot of our cooking, but my favorite way is for roasting veggies – especially when they need to be used ASAP. I’ll roast them and then snack on them. They don’t last long after that 🙂
Megan
April 12, 2011 at 4:35 pmMy favorite way to use olive oil is to pour a little puddle on a saucer and to dip a piece of bread right in. Love it with a balsamic drizzle in the middle of the puddle and some pistachios pieces on top.
Gen
April 12, 2011 at 4:08 pmWhat an awesome post! Those are all great pantry staples! 😀
emily (a nutritionist eats)
April 12, 2011 at 4:08 pmI go through a TON of olive oil – but I think my favorite is just with some good bread – I could eat that every day!
I love your list of pantry staples!
Rachel W.
April 12, 2011 at 3:30 pmAND I’m a fb fan!
Rachel W.
April 12, 2011 at 3:29 pmI re-tweeted!
Rachel W.
April 12, 2011 at 3:28 pmMy pre-vegan favorite use of olive oil is mixing it up with fresh cracked black pepper and fresh parmesan cheese, then of course dunking some bread in that bad boy. This mixture is probably due to the fact that I have yet to truly experience really GOOD olive oil…
Mary
April 12, 2011 at 3:02 pmThis is a really helpful post for folks just starting out or infrequent movers. Have a great day. Blessings…MaryI
Megan
April 12, 2011 at 2:35 pmI love to add seasonings to it and dip bread! Yum!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
April 12, 2011 at 2:21 pmThese are great pantry staples and I definitely agree with them. I have all of these in my pantry now and couldn’t live without them!
Laura
April 12, 2011 at 1:52 pmThanks for all the pantry basics tips! And as for my favorite way to use olive oil, I’d have to say as a real simple dressing for some lightly sauteed vegetables. It’s such a flavorful and delicious oil, I like to use it with gorgeous, fresh vegetables to let both of the flavors shine! And thanks for hosting this great giveaway!
alyssa - fashion fitness foodie
April 12, 2011 at 11:15 amI like to use olive oil in making my own dressings!
Blond Duck
April 12, 2011 at 10:53 amI’m so glad you included canned beans. So many people over look them!
Angie@Angiesrecipes
April 12, 2011 at 4:50 amOlive oil is definitely a MUST have in the pantry. Thanks for sharing the tips.
Sophia @ Raven Waves
April 12, 2011 at 4:13 amAwesome giveaway! My favorite way to use olive oil is drizzled on top of a Greek pasta, with a bit of feta cheese on top!
Simply Life
April 11, 2011 at 9:56 pmMy favorite way to use olive oil is as a light sauce for pasta with a little lemon and parmesan cheese. It’s so simple but always so perfect. And I totally need this – I move WAY TOO MUCH and going through olive oil like water 🙂
Amanda
April 12, 2011 at 1:31 amMy favorite way to enjoy olive oil is in an Insalata Caprese or on roasted sweet potatoes.
Dishes of Mrs. Fish
April 12, 2011 at 1:29 amEggs and I are BFFs. Tasty, delicious, and easy. Perfect for midweek dinners.
This a great informative post, one I’ll have to forward to my soon to be married on her own for the first time cousin.
Sarah Caron
April 12, 2011 at 1:04 amI adore olive oil and use it on salad (with a little balsamic vinegar), tossed in pastas, and drizzled on roasted veggies.
NancyC
April 12, 2011 at 1:04 amI became a FB of fan of In Good Taste 🙂
rebecca
April 12, 2011 at 12:56 amgreat idea for a post
NancyC
April 12, 2011 at 12:56 amThose are great pantry-stocking tips! My favorite way to use olive oil is when I make homemade pesto in the summer with basil from my garden. I eat that all summer long!
Autumn @ Good Eats Girl
April 12, 2011 at 12:44 amOh, how fun! I’ve been looking for flavored olive oils to try!
I agree…making eggs is definitely cooking! 🙂
Adrienne
April 12, 2011 at 12:36 amYummy bread, balsamic vinegar and olive oil, then I just dunk away:-)
Dewi
April 12, 2011 at 12:29 amdefinitely! I always have olive oil in my pantry as I use it a lot for my cooking.
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen
April 12, 2011 at 12:07 amThanks for stopping by! I’m glad you liked the Easter egg cereal treats!
I use olive oil just about every day. My favorite way to use it roght now is drizzled on noodles for my son since he odesn’t like pasta sauce. 🙂
Ellisha Caplan
April 12, 2011 at 12:06 amI love using olive oil in my challah recipe — it gives it a richer, warmer flavor than plain ol’ vegetable oil. Yum!
Jessica
April 12, 2011 at 12:05 amGreat giveaway! My favorite way to use olive oil is to infuse it with herbs or garlic or even lemOn. It saves time in the lOng run when I am I’m a hurry to sauté something and it pairs perfect with pasta!
Erica
April 11, 2011 at 11:05 pmWhat a great post! Having moved wayyyy too many times- I’ve definitely played the restocking games SO many times. I can’t tell you how often I’ve gone to cook for the first time and been like…hmmm where IS the salt & pepper…oh right, you must buy that stuff ;). This olive oil sounds fabulous. I’ve been making these pumpkin bars with olive oil lately and they are AMAZING
Daryl
April 11, 2011 at 10:06 pmI actually use it for just about everything that calls for oil due to the health benefits