What are your store cupboard staples?
We all keep a variety of items in our store cupboards that last quite a long time and get replenished on a regular basis so that they are always available. If you are not sure what you should keep in your store cupboard it can be useful to see someone else’s list to give you an idea of what you want, but don’t forget, this is not a generic list of must haves. Every one will have an individual store cupboard that reflects their cooking style.
In my suggestions below I’m also going to include items that keep for a couple of months in the fridge.
For me the basic list is mainly items I would expect to see in a student’s store cupboard, or items I would take on a self catering holiday.
The quick and easy list includes items I use when I want to do a quick weeknight dinner that’s still mostly home cooked but might involve a couple of “cheats”.
The home cooking list includes items I use when I do home cooking from scratch or some baking.
Basic store cupboard staples
Bottle of olive oil
Ready made pasta sauce
Mixed dried herbs
Garlic granules
Dried wholemeal pasta
Easy cook long grain rice
Plain white flour
Cornflour (cornstarch)
Tinned tomatoes
Tinned tuna
Beef gravy granules
Chicken gravy granules
Beef stock cubes
Chicken stock cubes
Tomato puree
Salt
Pepper
Medium dried curry powder
Butter or olive oil spread
Caster sugar
Eggs
Peanut butter
Marmite
Additional quick and easy store cupboard staples
Curry paste – indian
Thai curry paste
Ready made stirfry sauce
Dried noodles
Dried lentils
Passata
Dried basil
Dried oregano
Chilli powder
Soy sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Mango chutney
Lime juice
Lemon juice
Wholegrain mustard
Coriander – in a suspension or gel (cilantro)
Cider
Beer
Red and white wine
Ready made custard
Ready made puff pastry
Tinned fruit
Additional home cooking store cupboard staples
Capers
Olives
Fish sauce (nam pla)
Strong white flour
Cocoa powder
Sesame oil
Root ginger
Garlic cloves
Dried tarragon
Dried dill
Dried thyme
Dried sage
Dried rosemary
Bay leaves
Vegetable stock cubes
Fish stock cubes
Orange juice
Ground cumin
Ground coriander
Cardamom pods
Garam masala
Onion granules
Dijon mustard
English mustard
Dark cooking chocolate
Icing sugar
Self raising flour
Wholemeal flour
Jam
Sunflower seeds
Sesame seeds
Balsamic vinegar
White wine vinegar
Packet breadcrumbs
What other suggestions do you have for useful store cupboard staples?
March 24th, 2012 at 15:57
That’s a pretty comprehensive list. I think I would add some breakfast cereals, some rolled oats too and some dried yeast to go with the strong flour. Tea and coffee too maybe, and some tinned or powdered milk. My store cupboard tends to contain things that can be made into a ‘scratch’ meal, if for any reason I cannot cook that day, so I would include some tins of meat and veggies too. And of course…baked beans! 🙂
March 24th, 2012 at 17:13
Oh how could I forget baked beans! D’oh.