Stock up on the basics below for easy home-cooked meals.
The Bare Minimum
If you don't have these staples, you won't be able to cook.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable Oil
- All-Purpose Flour
- Granulated Sugar
Canned Goods
Low-sodium chicken broth and beef broth are recommended if you make gravies, sauces, and dishes in which the liquid is cooked down, or "reduced." The salty flavor becomes more concentrated and pronounced. Low-sodium products allow you to control the seasoning.
- Chicken Broth
- Beef Broth
- Canned tomatoes
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- Can/jar of marinara sauce
- Canned beans: white, black, kidney
- Tuna
Starches and Dry Goods
Does your family eat a lot of pasta? Do you prepare stir-fries and other Asian dishes? Stock up on what you like to eat.
- Spaghetti
- Linguine
- Corkscrew pasta
- Penne or other short pasta
- Egg noodles
- Long-grain white rice
- Jasmine or basmati rice
- Lentils
- Split peas
- Dried bread crumbs
The Root Cellar
Onions and potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark, well-ventilated area--don't keep them in plastic bags or in the refrigerator.
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