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A Bare Bones Minimum Pantry Stockpile
Q. Dear Cath,
I would like to know what you consider staples, besides, flour, sugar, salt and pepper. Thank you, a newbie,
Barbara
I would like to know what you consider staples, besides, flour, sugar, salt and pepper. Thank you, a newbie,
Barbara
A. A well-stocked pantry is essential if you want to eat well, stay clean and healthy, keep your hone clean and your garden growing AND stick to your grocery budget.
It takes time to build your pantry, but it is well worth taking the time and making the effort to choose ingredients and items you'll use that are also multi-purpose. An easy and quick way to build your pantry stockpile is to set aside a portion of your grocery budget each shop so you can buy one or two of the pantry basics on your list and before you know it you'll have a fully stocked pantry.
The bare bones in my kitchen pantry stockpile would be:
Flours - plain, self-raising, wholemeal, gluten, cornflour
Sugar - just white. You can make castor and brown sugar very easily.
Rolled oats
Rice - white. Basmati as it's a lower GI and slightly better than other rices
Pasta - easy as it is to make, it's just as cheap and easy to buy. Spaghetti, lasagne, twists or shells.
Dried fruits - mixed fruit and sultanas, glace cherries and ginger, apricots, dates, prunes
Dried beans and lentils
Nuts - peanuts for peanut butter, almonds, walnuts
Spices - cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, turmeric, paprika, coriander, cumin, mixed spice, vanilla beans, vanilla extract
Herbs - mixed herbs, basil, oregano, rosemary, dill, dried onion, garlic powder, sage, thyme,
Powdered milk - skim and full cream
Vinegar - white, brown, balsamic, apple cider
Sauces - soy, oyster, tomato, barbecue, sweet chilli
Oils - olive, safflower, sesame
Yeast
Tinned tomatoes
Tinned pineapple
Baked beans
Eggs
Butter
Cheese - tasty, parmesan
Potatoes
Onions
Carrots
Celery
Zucchini
I do have other foods in the pantry, but those above are the bare basics. With those ingredients and a little beef, chicken, lamb or fish I can feed the family for months before repeating a recipe. My best advice is to stock ingredients because with ingredients you have options.
Other zones in the pantry also need to be stocked and maintained to keep your home running smoothly and efficiently, and so you and your family can be comfortable.
The bare bones in my non-food pantry stockpile would be:
Oven bags
Freezer bags
Foil
Clingwrap
Vacuum bags (for the Foodsaver, not the vacuum cleaner!)
Baking paper
Patty pans of various sizes
Freezer paper
Paper bags
Foil trays
Serviettes
Plastic tablecloths
The bare bones in the cleaning stockpile would be:
Laundry soap
Borax
Washing Soda
Bicarbonate Soda
Citric Acid
Eucalyptus oil
Lavender oil
Ti Tree oil
Salt
Ocedar furniture oil
White vinegar
Dishwashing detergent
Dishwasher powder
Scrub buds
Matches
Spare gas lighters (2)
Bug spray
The bare bones in the toiletries stockpile would be:
Toothpaste
Toothebrushes
Toothbrush heads (for the electric toothbrushes)
Mouthwash
Dental floss
Shampoo
Conditioner
Hair spray
Deodorant
Moisturiser
BB cream
Mascara
Lipstick
Lip balm
Razors
Shaving cream
Bodywash
Soap
Dove bars
Body cream
Handcream
Sunscreen
The bare bones in the first aid stockpile would be:
Bandaids of various shapes and sizes
Burn cream
Burn dressings
Betadine gargle
Betadine
Dettol
Antiseptic cream
Antiseptic wipes
Peroxide
Bandages
Elastic bandages
Paracetamol
Ibuprofen
Zyrtec
Immodium
Saline
Eye bath
Water purification tablets
The bare bones in my garden stockpile is:
Lots of different types of seeds
Icy pole sticks to use as plant markers
Twine
Torn sheets to use as ties
Brass hose fittings (2 spare sets)
The bare bones in the clothing stockpile (these days I only stockpile for Wayne and myself) would be:
Socks
Underwear
T-shirts
Long sleeved t-shirts
PJs
Nighties
Track pants (for Wayne)
Slippers
Gloves
Beanies
Scarves
Spencers
Warm winter jackets
The bare bones in the gift stockpile changes throughout the year and with family changes but it would be:
Wrapping paper
Gift bags (new)
Gift bags (recycled)
Cards & envelopes (birthday, thank you, thinking of you etc.)
Gift cards & envelopes
Gift tags
Sticky tape
Double-sided tape
Ribbons
Bows
Curling Ribbon
And lots of things for presents
It takes time to build your pantry, but it is well worth taking the time and making the effort to choose ingredients and items you'll use that are also multi-purpose. An easy and quick way to build your pantry stockpile is to set aside a portion of your grocery budget each shop so you can buy one or two of the pantry basics on your list and before you know it you'll have a fully stocked pantry.
The bare bones in my kitchen pantry stockpile would be:
Flours - plain, self-raising, wholemeal, gluten, cornflour
Sugar - just white. You can make castor and brown sugar very easily.
Rolled oats
Rice - white. Basmati as it's a lower GI and slightly better than other rices
Pasta - easy as it is to make, it's just as cheap and easy to buy. Spaghetti, lasagne, twists or shells.
Dried fruits - mixed fruit and sultanas, glace cherries and ginger, apricots, dates, prunes
Dried beans and lentils
Nuts - peanuts for peanut butter, almonds, walnuts
Spices - cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, turmeric, paprika, coriander, cumin, mixed spice, vanilla beans, vanilla extract
Herbs - mixed herbs, basil, oregano, rosemary, dill, dried onion, garlic powder, sage, thyme,
Powdered milk - skim and full cream
Vinegar - white, brown, balsamic, apple cider
Sauces - soy, oyster, tomato, barbecue, sweet chilli
Oils - olive, safflower, sesame
Yeast
Tinned tomatoes
Tinned pineapple
Baked beans
Eggs
Butter
Cheese - tasty, parmesan
Potatoes
Onions
Carrots
Celery
Zucchini
I do have other foods in the pantry, but those above are the bare basics. With those ingredients and a little beef, chicken, lamb or fish I can feed the family for months before repeating a recipe. My best advice is to stock ingredients because with ingredients you have options.
Other zones in the pantry also need to be stocked and maintained to keep your home running smoothly and efficiently, and so you and your family can be comfortable.
The bare bones in my non-food pantry stockpile would be:
Oven bags
Freezer bags
Foil
Clingwrap
Vacuum bags (for the Foodsaver, not the vacuum cleaner!)
Baking paper
Patty pans of various sizes
Freezer paper
Paper bags
Foil trays
Serviettes
Plastic tablecloths
The bare bones in the cleaning stockpile would be:
Laundry soap
Borax
Washing Soda
Bicarbonate Soda
Citric Acid
Eucalyptus oil
Lavender oil
Ti Tree oil
Salt
Ocedar furniture oil
White vinegar
Dishwashing detergent
Dishwasher powder
Scrub buds
Matches
Spare gas lighters (2)
Bug spray
The bare bones in the toiletries stockpile would be:
Toothpaste
Toothebrushes
Toothbrush heads (for the electric toothbrushes)
Mouthwash
Dental floss
Shampoo
Conditioner
Hair spray
Deodorant
Moisturiser
BB cream
Mascara
Lipstick
Lip balm
Razors
Shaving cream
Bodywash
Soap
Dove bars
Body cream
Handcream
Sunscreen
The bare bones in the first aid stockpile would be:
Bandaids of various shapes and sizes
Burn cream
Burn dressings
Betadine gargle
Betadine
Dettol
Antiseptic cream
Antiseptic wipes
Peroxide
Bandages
Elastic bandages
Paracetamol
Ibuprofen
Zyrtec
Immodium
Saline
Eye bath
Water purification tablets
The bare bones in my garden stockpile is:
Lots of different types of seeds
Icy pole sticks to use as plant markers
Twine
Torn sheets to use as ties
Brass hose fittings (2 spare sets)
The bare bones in the clothing stockpile (these days I only stockpile for Wayne and myself) would be:
Socks
Underwear
T-shirts
Long sleeved t-shirts
PJs
Nighties
Track pants (for Wayne)
Slippers
Gloves
Beanies
Scarves
Spencers
Warm winter jackets
The bare bones in the gift stockpile changes throughout the year and with family changes but it would be:
Wrapping paper
Gift bags (new)
Gift bags (recycled)
Cards & envelopes (birthday, thank you, thinking of you etc.)
Gift cards & envelopes
Gift tags
Sticky tape
Double-sided tape
Ribbons
Bows
Curling Ribbon
And lots of things for presents