A Well Stocked Pantry

The first step to building any food storage should be at least a 3 day supply of water.

The second step?  A well stocked pantry:

You cannot expect to have a 3 month supply of food (or more) if you can't survive a week without running to the supermarket to pick up an ingredient or two.

A well stocked pantry is an essential part of every family’s food storage.  Ideally, it should contain the ingredients needed for you to throw a number of different meals together, over a lengthy period of time (1 month at least).  A pantry includes everything; from your refrigerator to fresh produce to your canned goods and long term storage items.  Every pantry will be different based on the needs of your individual family; age, food preferences, likes, dislikes, etc.

This is a list of what is included in my pantry, to help provide additional ideas or to help get you started.  Items at the top of each category are things I ALWAYS have, with occasional items below.  If you don’t eat something on this list, don’t buy it.  If you regularly eat items that I don’t have listed, swap them out for your own needs.

Meats (fridge and freezer):

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

Ground Beef

Beef Roasts

Beef Steaks

Pork Sirloin and/or chops

Breakfast Sausage

Turkey Franks

 - Occasionally:

Chicken thighs or drumsticks

Whole chicken / turkey

Fish

Specialty sausage

Ham

Original, Canadian , Turkey Bacon

Pepperoni

Sandwich Meats

Produce:

Apples

Bananas

Additional Fruit – whatever is seasonal and/or on sale (at least enough for 1 week)

Red Onions (1-2)

White or Yellow Onions (2-8)

Green Onions

Garlic (1-2 heads)

Iceberg Lettuce (1 head)

Additional Greens (spinach, kale, romaine, etc.. – 1 bag)

Carrots (at least 1 bag)

Celery

Red or Green Bell Peppers

Tomatoes (enough for 1 week)

Potatoes (20-30 lbs.)

Winter Squash (6 months worth - if in season)

Frozen fruit

Frozen Veggies

Fats and Oils:

Shortening

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Canola Oil

Vegetable Oil

Sesame Oil

Pam cooking spray

Soy Liquid Lecithin (I use to make bread)

Dairy:

Cheddar

Swiss

Mozzarella

Pepperjack

Parmesan (green can)

Cream Cheese

Eggs (3-4 dozen)

Milk (1-4 gallons)

Butter Spread

Butter

Margarine

Sour Cream

Whip Cream

 - Occasionally:

Real Parmesan

Cottage Cheese

Ricotta Cheese

Breads:

I make my breads from scratch, so I have ingredients and a recipe for:

White Bread

Wheat Bread

French Bread

Hamburger/hot dog buns

Pita Bread

Flour Tortillas

Focaccia Bread

Corn Bread

Biscuits

Quick Breads (banana/zucchini)

Sweet Breads (sweet rolls)

Canned Goods

Tomato Soup

Cream of Chicken Soup

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Beef Consommé

Chicken Broth

Beef Broth

Evaporated Milk

Pinto Beans

Black Beans

Kidney Beans

Garbanzo Beans/Chick Peas

Great Northern Beans

Refried Beans

Chili

Corn

Creamed corn

Green beans

Spaghetti Sauce

Tomato sauce

Tomato Paste

Stewed Tomatoes

Diced Tomatoes

Diced green chilies

Bottled Salsa

Bottled Jam

Bottled Peaches

Bottled Pears

Bottled Applesauce

Bottled Apple Pie Filling

Bottled Tomatoes

Roasted Red Bell Peppers

Mandarin Oranges

Fruit Cocktail

Pineapple, chunk or tidbits

Tuna

 - Occasionally:

Bottled Cherries

Bottled Apricots

Canned/Bottled Chicken Chunks

Canned/Bottled Beef Chunks

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Coconut Milk

Minced garlic

Recipe Essentials:

All-purpose flour (mine doubles as bread flour)

Granulated Sugar

Powdered Sugar

Brown Sugar

Honey (filtered and raw)

Karo or Corn syrup

Molasses

Vanilla extract

Almond extract

Table salt

Kosher salt

Yeast (regular and instant)

Baking Powder

Baking Soda

Cornstarch

Clear or Ultra Gel

Baking Cocoa

Coconut

Chocolate Chips

Candy Chips

Food coloring

Sprinkles

Misc. Pantry

Wheat Germ

Seasoned bread crumbs

Panko bread crumbs

Cornflake crumbs

Splenda

Peanut Butter

Pudding Mix

Jell-o

Cake Mixes & Frosting

Stuffing Mix

Hard Taco Shells

Syrup

Capers

French Fried Onions

Cereal (variety)

Instant Oatmeal

Staples:

Rice, White / Brown / Arborio

Oats, Regular & Quick

Quinoa

Wheat and Bulgur

Barley

Cornmeal

Dried Beans

Pasta:

Rotini

Penne

Elbows

Shells

Lasagna

Spaghetti / Angel Hair

Linguine / Fettuccini

Bowties

Orzo

Couscous

Egg Noodles

Kraft Mac and Cheese

Raman

Condiments:

Miracle Whip

Ketchup

Yellow Mustard

Dijon Mustard

BBQ sauce

A1 Steak Sauce

Hoisin Sauce

Worcestershire Sauce

Soy Sauce

Hot Sauce

Relish

Chili Sauce

Ranch Dressing

Italian Dressing

Honey Mustard Dressing

Vinegar:

White distilled vinegar

White wine vinegar

Red wine vinegar

Balsamic vinegar

Cider vinegar

Rice vinegar

Spices and Seasonings:

Salt, Table and Kosher

Black Pepper (corns and ground)

Allspice

Basil

Bay leaves

Beef bouillon cubes

Bell peppers, dehydrated

Cajun seasoning

Celery seed

Chicken bouillon cubes

Chili powder

Chives

Cilantro, dried and fresh

Cinnamon sticks

Cinnamon, ground

Cloves, ground and whole

Cream of tartar

Crushed red pepper

Cumin

Curry powder

Dill weed

Fennel seed

Fennel, ground

Garlic

Garlic salt

Ginger, fresh and ground

Herbs de Provence

Italian

Lemon pepper

Marjoram

Mustard, ground

Nutmeg

Onion powder

Onions, dehydrated

Oregano

Paprika

Parsley

Poppy seeds

Red pepper flakes

Rosemary

Saffron

Sage

Seasoning salt

Sesame seeds

Steak / Grill seasoning

Taco seasoning

Tarragon

Thyme

Turmeric

Poultry Gravy Mix

Brown Gravy Mix

Onion Soup Mix

Fajita Seasoning Mix

Beef Stew Seasoning Mix

Spaghetti Seasoning Mix

Ranch Dressing Mix

Popcorn Seasoning

 - occasionally:

Fresh herbs (mostly basil)

Nuts and Snacks:

Crackers (variety)

Raisins

Popcorn

Peanuts

Almonds

Pine nuts

Candy

Cookies

Juices and Drinks:

Lemon juice

Lime juice

Apple Juice

Orange Juice (frozen)

Bottled grape juice

Bottled apricot nectar

Chocolate Milk Mix

Hot Chocolate mix

Crystal Light / Koolaid packets / Drink Mixes

Gatorade / Powerade / Pedialyte

Powdered / Dehydrated / Food Storage:

Powdered Milk

Powdered Eggs

Apple Slices

Banana Chips

Powdered Whip Cream

Soups (just add water)

Potato Pearls/Gems

 - On my wish list:

Butter Powder

Buttermilk Powder

Sour Cream Powder

Shortening Powder

Cheese Powder

Potato Slices

Potato Chunks

Freeze Dried Fruits

Dehydrated Fruits

Dehydrated Carrots

Dehydrated Celery

Recipes:

This is where cooking really comes into play when dealing with food storage, and in my opinion is the hardest hurdle for people to get over.

Realistically, if you want to be prepared with a years’ supply of food, you have to start learning how to prepare the perishable items you purchase.  This idea can be completely overwhelming!  Don’t let it be!  Try picking one item at a time – something you use the most, like bread.  You may find that the taste/health benefits are completely worth it.  And I can guarantee it will cost you a lot less!  (On average a loaf of bread costs me .25 cents and 10 minutes of hands on time).

Even if you always purchase it at the store, I recommend having a recipe for everything you eat regularly (and yes, there are recipes for EVERYTHING!).  Start with the basics – what do you consume the most at your house?
(**For a complete list of all of my recipes, click here)

Along with your recipes, you should also have an ingredient substitution list (coming soon).  These are extremely helpful when you are only missing a single ingredient.