Staples to Keep Stocked in Your Kitchen

When you first move out on your own or cooking simply isn’t your strong suit, knowing what you need in your kitchen can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are many things you can make with a few ingredients and tools. So if you’re just starting out and not sure what you need, the following are some staple items that can get you through many recipes.

Pantry

Pantry items are the basic ingredients for everything from pancakes to more sophisticated meals. If you keep the following items in your pantry, you are sure to have something to cook:

• Sugar
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Rice
• Flour – all-purpose and self-rising is a good idea
• Oats
• Pasta
• Oil
• Syrup
• Condiments, like ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard
• Salt and pepper
• Vanilla extract
• Tomato sauce
• Canned goods, depending on your preference

Fridge

Though you can get many meals with pantry items and water, you’re limited without a few ingredients in your fridge.

• Milk
• Eggs
• Shredded cheese
• Butter

Dishes

And of course, you need a few things to mix up and cook those ingredients. The following are a great start:

• A set of mixing bowls and spoons
• Small and large skillet
• Small and large pot
• Spatula and slotted spoon
• Strainer and/or colander

As time goes on, you’ll find more and more things you need to cook as you like and to make things easier. However, keeping these items on hand can keep you fed until you are ready to expand your kitchen tasks.