The 30 Pantry Staples Every Kitchen Needs

A well-stocked pantry is the backbone of stress-free cooking. With these 30 staples on hand, you can always improvise a meal—even when the fridge looks empty.

Grains and Carbs

1. Rice — Long-grain for sides, short-grain for risotto
2. Pasta — At least two shapes (spaghetti and penne work for most)
3. Oats — Breakfast staple, also for baking
4. Bread or wraps — Freeze for longer storage
5. Flour — Plain for most cooking, self-raising for baking

Tinned Goods

6. Tinned tomatoes — Chopped for sauce, whole for crushing
7. Tinned beans — Chickpeas, black beans, cannellini
8. Tinned tuna — Quick protein for salads and pasta
9. Coconut milk — For curries and Asian dishes
10. Stock cubes — Vegetable, chicken, or beef

Oils and Vinegars

11. Olive oil — Extra virgin for dressing, regular for cooking
12. Vegetable oil — High smoke point for frying
13. Red wine vinegar — For dressings and marinades
14. Balsamic vinegar — Finishing drizzle, salads

Condiments and Sauces

15. Soy sauce — Essential for Asian cooking
16. Tomato puree — Concentrated tomato flavour
17. Mustard — Dijon or English
18. Honey — Sweetener and glaze
19. Hot sauce — Heat on demand

Herbs and Spices

20. Salt — Fine for cooking, flaky for finishing
21. Black pepper — Whole peppercorns in a grinder
22. Garlic — Fresh bulbs or granulated
23. Cumin — Essential for Mexican and Indian
24. Paprika — Smoky depth
25. Italian herbs — Dried oregano, basil, thyme
26. Chilli flakes — Quick heat

Baking Essentials

27. Sugar — Caster and brown
28. Baking powder — For rise
29. Vanilla extract — Real extract, not essence

Nuts and Seeds

30. Mixed nuts or peanut butter — Protein, snacks, sauces

Storage Tips

• Use airtight containers for grains and flour
• Store oils away from heat and light
• Check dried spices annually—they lose potency
• Rotate stock: first in, first out
• Label containers with purchase dates

What You Can Make

With these staples plus a few fresh ingredients, you can make pasta dishes, stir-fries, rice bowls, soups, curries, sandwiches, baked goods, and more. The foundation is always ready.

Track your pantry and fridge together? Fridgr keeps your inventory updated and suggests recipes based on everything you have.