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I remember when I first ventured out on my own. There were so many things to buy including groceries to stock the pantry. I wanted it all but was, of course, on a very tight budget. I had to get the most basic of items and gradually stock the others. Well, that was a long time ago. My opinion on what is essential has changed and the pantry is a lot bigger than it used to be. It is important to have food items in storage especially for spontaneous, quick, easy, healthy and creative cooking. There are items that are basic to almost any cooking. Other items are dependent on the type of cooking you do most often and the amount of storage space available. Obviously, the list below is based on my preferences and space. You will want to omit some items and add others. On the subject of space, there are ways to expand at no cost. My pantry closet is just too small, so now I use a small area of a big walk-in closet in the master bedroom and a cabinet salvaged from my old kitchen that I placed in the garage. And if you have the space, invest in a stand-up freezer. In the long run you save money on meats and freezable items when they are on sale. If you have a garden, you know it is essential. Some staples below are listed under more than one category, such as bottled condiments that must be refrigerated after opening. By the way, make certain you are familiar with the recommended shelf life for perishable items. There are several good resources on the Internet.
REFRIGERATOR
Eggs
Butter or margarine
Milk
Whipping cream
Sour cream
Cream cheese
Mild cheese
Sharp cheese
Mozzarella
Parmesan cheese
Romano cheese
Mayonnaise
Yellow mustard
Dijon mustard
Worcestershire sauce
Steak sauce
Horseradish
Ketchup
Pickle relish
Hot pepper pickles
Green olives
Ripe olives
Assorted pickles
Salsa
Jellies or jams
Apple butter
Refrigerator biscuits
Bacon
Fat back
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FREEZER
Ice
Vegetables
Ground beef
Whole chicken
Boneless chicken breasts
Boneless pork chops
Link and/or bulk sausage
Bacon
Breads and rolls
Prebaked pizza shells
Fresh breadcrumbs
Bread cubes
Puff pastry
Pyllo dough
Flour tortillas
Corn tortillas
Pierogies
Stuffed pasta
Hors d'ouevres
Beef stock
Chicken stock
Fish stock
Non-dairy topping
Walnuts
Pecans
Almonds
Ice cream or frozen yogurt
Sherbert
Frozen fruits
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PRODUCE
White potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Onions
Garlic
Sweet peppers
Hot peppers
Fresh mushrooms
Dried mushrooms
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Carrots
Celery
Apples
Oranges
Lemons
Limes
Parsley
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DRY GOODS
All-purpose flour
Cake flour
Cornmeal
Cornmeal muffin mix
Granulated sugar
Confectioner's sugar
Brown sugar
Baking soda
Baking powder
Yeast
Cornstarch
Unsweetened cocoa
Unsweetened chocolate
Semi-sweet chocolate
German chocolate
Biscuit mix
Minute tapioca
Vegetable shortening
Oatmeal
Cereal
Crackers
Dried breadcrumbs
Pasta (such as):
Penne or ziti
Spaghetti
Angel hair
Fettuccini
Linguini
Ditalini
Lasagna
Orzo
Elbows
Egg noodles
Long grain rice
Brown rice
Wild rice
Arborio rice
Barley
Kidney beans
Great Northern beans
Lentils
Split peas
Onion soup mix
Dried corn
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CANNED / BOTTLED
Whole tomatoes
Tomato paste
Tomato puree
Tomato sauce
Crushed tomatoes
Chicken broth
Condensed cream of mushroom soup
Canned fruits
Pie fillings
Worcestershire sauce
Soy sauce
Dijon mustard
Tuna
Anchovies
Anchovy paste
Green beans
Asparagus
Chick peas
Kidney beans
Creamed corn
Whole kernel corn
Evaporated milk
Peanut butter
Canned chiles
Assorted pickles
Olives
Capers
Chopped pimentos
Hoisin sauce
Sesame oil
Salsa
Light corn syrup
Dark corn syrup
Pure maple syrup
Pancake syrup
Honey
Pure vanilla
Almond flavoring
Bouillon
Hot sauce
Grated cheese
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VINEGAR / OIL
Olive oil
Canola oil
Peanut oil
Olive oil spray
Cooking oil spray
Red wine vinegar
Balsamic vinegar
White distilled vinegar
Cider vinegar
SPIRITS
Dry red wine
Dry white wine
Port wine
Vermouth
Brandy or Cognac
Dry sherry
Gin
Rum
Assorted liqueurs
Dark beer
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DRIED HERBS
Parsley
Oregano
Basil
Rosemary
Thyme
Rubbed sage
Marjoram
Cilantro
Bay leaves
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Chives
Tarragon
Dill weed
Dill seed
Onion powder
Minced onions
Garlic powder
Minced garlic
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SPICES
Peppercorns
Coarse salt
Iodized salt
Cinnamon sticks
Ground cinnamon
Ground nutmeg
Ground cloves
Whole cloves
Ground turmeric
Ground allspice
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Ground mace
Pickling spice
Mustard seed
Dry mustard
Cayenne pepper
Celery seed
Caraway seeds
Fennel seeds
Ground ginger
Ground cumin
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