Reader Q&A: What do you consider essential pantry items?

Do you have a shopping list of what the essentials are when stocking a pantry? I’m exactly the kind of person you wrote for: not a terribly bad cook, but unsure and insecure in the kitchen. I loved The Kitchen Counter School and am inspired to try on my own, but I’m not sure what staples I should have on hand. Please help! – Gean

Hey Gean, I turned to my food friends on Facebook and posed the question to them. What appears below is a complete list offered by more than a dozen good home cooks and professional chefs. What this shows is that there is no definitive list; a pantry reflects your palate. If you’re keen to learn to make various Asian foods, your pantry will be different than if your tastes run to Italian or French. I’ve never Piri Piri on hand but I couldn’t live without good mustard.

It’s always best to start buying anything for your pantry in small quantities, notably oils. Pay attention to what you actually use before you opt for the “economy” size. Find a place that sells herbs and spices in bulk; it will save money and avoid waste. You can order online from World Spice.

Pantry items in regular type were recommended by one or more cooks. Items listed in bold were recommended by two or more cooks. Items listed in bold underline were recommended by even more cooks — and reflect my own personal thoughts on standard essentials.

Apples

baking powder

baking soda

a basil plant

bell peppers

boxed beef stock

boxed organic/homemade chicken stock

boxed/homemade vegetable stock

butter

canned beans (like black, cannelloni, garbanzo, kidney and pinto)

canned tomatoes

canned tuna (also salmon, chicken)

canola oil

carrots

capers

celery

cheese (too many to list)

chili powder (or dried chilies)

Cilantro

cinnamon

coarse sea salt

coffee

Creole seasoning

cumin

curry sauces

dark chocolate

eggs

fish sauce

flour (gluten-free if needed)

garlic

garlic powder

ginger

grape seed oil

whole or ground allspice

whole or ground cloves

hoisin sauce

Italian herb spices

jalapeno

Jarlsberg cheese

kosher salt

lemons

limes

marjoram

masa

mint

mirin

miso

mustard (particularly Dijon)

olive oil

olives

Onions

oregano

oyster sauce

pasta (dried, gluten-free if needed)

peanut butter

peanut oil

pepper (fresh, with a grinder)

pine nuts

Piri Piri

popcorn

potato chips

ramen noodles