Pantry Planning

[barbszy]

If you have space to store a little--or a lot--of extra food items, this can really help on days when you can't make it to the store to pick up that one last ingredient.

What tips can you share on setting up your pantry and using it to your best advantage?

[momperson]

When I start from scratch to build my pantry (such as after a big move), I set aside an extra $30-$40 or so each week/pay period so I have funds to stock some of the loss-leaders to go with my basics.
First I make a list of several meals that use pantry staples & check ads to see if any are on sale that week. ie:

Spaghetti, Meatsauce, Garlic Bread, Pineapple

Hamburger Gravy, Rice, Green Beans (canned), Pears (canned)

Overnight Chicken Casserole, Peaches (canned)

pantry list:

spaghetti
canned spaghetti sauce (we like DelMonte)
Kraft grated Parmesan cheese, lg.
Italian seasoning
garlic powder
salt,lg
pepper,lg
pineapple chunks
beef/brown gravy (jar or pkt.)
long-grain white rice, lg. bag
green beans
pears
chicken (canned)
elbow macaroni, lg. bag
cream mushroom soup
cream celery soup
minced dried onion, lg
chicken base (ie: "Better than Boullion" brand)
peaches (canned)

fresh ingredients:
2 lb. ground beef (freeze in 1 lb. pkgs)
loaf French bread, cut in half, each wrapped & frozen

these items go in the pantry, not used for this weeks meals---except the rice, macaroni & spices would be available to use.

Now I have some staples, beginning spice collection & 3 'emergency' meals.
A few other staples I'd add as soon as possible would be:
instant dried milk powder
evaporated milk
oatmeal
sugar, granulated/brown/confectioners
flour
oil
Crisco
vinegar
baking powder
baking soda
vanilla
peanut butter
coffee/teabags
popcorn
a few canned meats/tuna

I'm sure I've forgotten a few items----hope this helps.

momperson

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Wow Momperson, you are organized.

I try to keep:
Dry pinto beans
Rice
Can veggies
Tomato sauce
Spaghetti
Elbow macaroni
Various seasonings
Capers
Anchovies
Cream of chicken soup
Cream of mushroom soup
French Fried onions
Bread crumbs
Spaghetti sauce

I am sure there is more, but my life has changes so much since I moved to a 5th wheel during semesters.

[Coll]

I have a pantry and freezer full of food, but nothing in there I want. LOL.

What do youdo in this type of situation?

Coll

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Coll, what I did when I had a similar situation or when DH gets the wrong thing at the store and they will not take back food items, is I call the local soup kitchen. They are usually glad to take donated food. If you don't have one or if you aren't sure, many of the churches can also help you.

[cat lover]

When we built our log home I insisited on a walk in pantry on the living quarters floor! No more running down to the lower level for groceries! So I have a 10 x 8 walk in pantry! Anyway, I have a miniature grocery now and have anything that is needed without a lot of menu planning. I can wak into it and pick out meals just like going to a grocery. Really keeps the running down.Two sides are lined with shelves tall enough for two cans stacked. The other two walls are partial shelves and pegboard for hanging items. I have clear containers to hold small seasonings packets, one set of drawers to hold things that won't hang well. And then the bottom all around has large 5 gallon buckets with lids to hold bulk flour, sugar ,etc. I also had two plugs put in; on top of one section of drawers is my small counter top oven/convection oven. Next it is a small cart that holds my two bread machines; so I can use those appliances right in the pantry without moving them to a countertop.

I have filled it with items as they came on sale ( I refuse to pay full price for most anything). So it take a while to fill it, but now I just maintain it from sales. Sure makes cooking fun and easier!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

My DH has to go some woodwork on my RV this summer. I live in that 10 months out of the year during school. Since school will be out for the summer July 3rd and summer school does start until towards the end of August, DH will have time to redo the them.

[RobertaD]

My pantry consists of 3 kitchen cupboards, a two shelf rack that I put in the corner of the kitchen and a box of canned goods in the garage.

My Mom is gutting her kitchen this summer so I called dibs on one of the cabinets to replaced the shelf in the corner. Might have to see if there is room anywhere else to put one or two of the cabinets.

Roberta

[katharina]

What tips can you share on setting up your pantry and using it to your best advantage?

There are a few basic things that I like to keep on hand in the pantry. I like to have spaghetti and sauce, other pastas and cream soups for casseroles, cans of tuna, chicken broth, canned vegetables. In the freezer I like to keep extra ground meat, chicken, and fish. For the fridge, I try to keep shredded cheese, eggs, and sour cream. I can usually pull a few good meals out of those types of ingredients.