Pantry, Refrigerator & Freezer Staples

Pantry, Refrigerator & Freezer Staples

Seemingly overnight, our mindset has changed when it comes to cooking and grocery shopping. You may be cooking more than beforeor for the first time ever on a regular basis! Were here to help. To help boost your creativity and guarantee that you always have plenty of versatile ingredients on hand, we've come up with this master list of staples for a kitchen. Use this article as a guide the next time you head to the grocery store. On this list, you'll find an array of whole grains, meats, fruits and vegetables. It's full of bold flavors and wholesome foods that you can incorporate into your weekly menu. While this list serves as a great base, we encourage you to customize it to your personal preference and dietary needs.

Pantry Staples

What staples should you keep stocked in your pantry? Keep scrolling to find out!

Oats

A true pantry staple, rolled oats are a great ingredient to keep on hand. Cooking and baking with oats is the perfect way to create a cozy and wholesome at-home meal. From delicious banana bread to a savory egg-topped breakfast bowl like this Oatmeal Congee, oats can be used in a variety of unique recipes. Versatile and great for you, oats are packed with fiber and nutrients, which make them an important part of a healthy diet. Use oats to create a decadent breakfast, savory dinner or an on-the-go snack. Their long shelf life makes them an ideal food to store in your cupboard.

Quinoa

Pantry, Refrigerator & Freezer Staples | Bob's Red Mill Blog Are you trying to add more nutrition to your meals? Keeping nutritious grains like organic quinoa on hand is a great way to keep you creative in the kitchen. A delicious ancient grain, quinoa is the ideal whole food. Its mild, nutty taste means that you can easily add it to both savory and sweet dishes without drastically changing the flavor of the recipe. Use it as a base for a fresh summertime salad, add it to soup for extra texture, or use it as a nutrient-dense alternative to white rice. Quinoa is a complete source of protein and loaded with dietary fiber. Plus, it's vegan and gluten free, which makes it the perfect grain to use when cooking for those with dietary restrictions. Searching for a refreshing quinoa recipe? Try out these Quinoa Spring Rolls.

Spices

If you're looking for a fun way to "spice" things up in the kitchen, then spices are the ingredient for you! Not all spices taste the same, and certain spices tend to have a more robust flavor than others. If you are just starting to cook with spices, we recommend beginning with common spices like cinnamon, ginger and chili powder. Adding just a small amount of these spices to a meal can boost the flavor significantly. If you have an extensive collection of spices in your pantry and feel like your spice rack would benefit from a cleanse, use these tips to discover if your spices are still fresh and stored correctly. Spice Storing Tips:
  • Over time, ground spices tend to lose their flavor. If you've had a ground spice sitting on your spice rack for over a year, it may be time to purchase a new one.
  • To better preserve your spices, store them in an air-tight container away from direct sunlight.
  • To keep spices fresher even longer, purchase them in their whole form and grind them yourself.
Use your favorite spices to add flavor to delicious dishes like this Spicy Vegan Farro Chili.

Honey

Pantry, Refrigerator & Freezer Staples | Bob's Red Mill Blog Despite its sweet flavor, honey can be added to nearly any cuisine, savory dishes included! From homemade granola to Indian-style curry, honey can boost the sweetness and body of a dish with just a few drops. Plus, when stored properly, honey can last for years. The ideal way to store honey is at room temperature in a cupboard or pantry shelf. It's important to note that crystallization is a natural process of honey and does not mean the honey has gone bad. However, it does make it harder to scoop or pour from the jar. Keeping honey in the refrigerator will only speed up the crystallization process and is not recommended. Looking for a creative way to use honey? We love using it to make this delicious Honey Jalapeno Cornbread.

Refrigerator Staples

Stock up on these refrigerator staples to guarantee that you always have nutritious ingredients to choose from!

Eggs

Eggs are a power ingredient. They're delicious when eaten on their own or when added to a recipe, and can be prepared in various ways. An essential ingredient in many breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes, eggs are great for you! Make fun foods like pasta, cake and even spreads better by simply adding an egg or two to the recipe. Relatively inexpensive, keeping eggs in your fridge will allow you to make a different recipe each day with just a few tweaks. Want to use eggs to make your next meal? Check out these Gluten Free, Chorizo, Egg and Sausage Breakfast Biscuits. If you're following a vegan diet, then eggs might not be the preferred refrigerator staple for you. Instead, you can quickly create an egg substitute by combining chia seeds and water! This substitute will work to bind the ingredients of the recipe together, just like eggs would. Plus, it's gluten free, vegetarian and vegan. Looking for a delicious recipe that uses an egg substitute? Try out this Gluten Free Baked Apple Pancake.

Yogurt

Pantry, Refrigerator & Freezer Staples | Bob's Red Mill Blog Yogurt is a delicious and healthy ingredient to stock your fridge with. With just a few scoops, you can create a delicious and nutritious meal in just minutes. To create a quick and healthy meal, simply mix your favorite natural yogurt with granola like our Honey Oat Granola, enjoy as is or top with a drizzle of honey for a sweet treat. Yogurt is also delicious when added to baked goods like this Yogurt Pie with Muesli Crumble. Whichever way you prefer to enjoy yogurt, it's a good idea to keep your fridge stocked with it. Searching for the perfect yogurt recipe? Try out this 5 Ingredient Strawberry Yogurt Muesli Bowl!

Jam

Jam is a versatile ingredient you can add to smoothies, spread on toast or use in your favorite pie recipe. Whether you chose to purchase your jam at the grocery store or make homemade jam like this Blueberry Chia Jam, we recommend trying out a few different flavors. Blackberry jam, strawberry jam and peach jam are a few of our favorites! The next time you stock up on jam, test out your baking skills by making these Jam Crumble Bars.

Sauces and Dips

Barbecue sauce, ranch dressing and ketchup are just a few of the many sauces that we stock our fridges with. Sauces can be used to prepare a dish, add flavor to a recipe, or even enjoyed as a dip! Whether you're a fan of salads topped with fresh sauces like oil and vinegar, or more filling dishes like barbecue ribs, we're confident that there's a sauce out there that you'll enjoy! The next time you're craving more flavor in the kitchen, try using sauce to create a flavorful meal like BBQ Chicken Pizza.

Freezer Staples

Add these freezer staples to your grocery list and you wont be disappointed!

Frozen Fruit

Pantry, Refrigerator & Freezer Staples | Bob's Red Mill Blog Purchasing frozen fruit is a great way to always keep your favorite fruits on hand, even when they're not in season. For a healthy treat, keep your freezer fully stocked with frozen fruits like mangos, strawberries and blackberries. Use them to create a wholesome breakfast smoothie like this Mango Matcha Smoothie or add them to a sweet tea for a refreshing treat. Storing fruits in the freezer will not only keep them from spoiling, but it will also guarantee that you always have nutritious, flavorful ingredients on hand.

Frozen Veggies

If you notice that most of your veggies spoil before you get to use them, then it might be time to start purchasing frozen ones. Frozen vegetables last much longer than fresh ones and work just as well when cooking your favorite meals. Used similarly to fresh veggies, frozen veggies can be added to soups, omelets or even Gluten Free Chicken Pot Pie. Try out this Couscous with Chicken Sausage and Mixed Veggies for a tasty veggie-filled dish that can be made with fresh or frozen vegetables!

Meat/Meat Substitutes

When most of us think of a hearty filling meal, it usually involves some kind of meat or meat substitute. If you're following a vegetarian or vegan diet, many meat substitutes can easily be stored in the freezer as well. Meat substitutes like textured vegetable protein can be used to make a variety of dishes ranging from burgers to tacos! Use this list of kitchen staples to create a nutritious grocery list full of foods the entire family will enjoy. Keeping your pantry stocked with these foods will ensure that you have a variety of healthy ingredients to use when making your favorite dishes. Have a kitchen staple you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments below!  
Bob's Red Mill
May 01 2020

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