What should you keep in your pantry? This does indeed sound like something a 1950s housewife may ask but keeping a well-stocked store cupboard is the starting point for easy and less expensive cooking. With long-lasting staples, you won’t necessarily have to pop out to the shops every time you open a recipe book and you’ll be able to take advantage of fresh fruit and veggies and whip up a feast on a whim.
Here are our top tips for keeping your pantry well-organised.

1. Make it look good
Instead of a sticky, sugar-crusted store cupboard opt for something chic and organised. If you used to get a good feeling from having an organised pencil case at school, this should tick your boxes. Decant your dry ingredients into bottled, air-tight jars, print off labels and off you go.

Download our print-friendly pantry labels.

2. Take a note of expiry dates
If you’re decanting dry ingredients, note their expiry dates and give your store cupboard a spring clean every few months.

3. Use air tight containers
To prevent ants, weevils and damp, store flour, sugar, rice et al in air tight containers. Make sure your store cupboard is as cool and as dry as you can get it.

4. Shop online if you can
Food shopping online can make it easier to stick to a budget and plan your meals. Consider a monthly online shop to cover all your basic staples and rather enjoy shopping for fresh, seasonal fruit and veggies and at your local butcher or fishmonger.

5. Don’t stock up on tuna if you don’t like it
Moving house with tins of tuna may say something: you aren’t a fan of tuna. It sounds ridiculous but make sure you stock up with the food your family enjoys.

6. Declutter and spring clean
Give your store cupboard a sort and it won’t be a scary place. Spices won’t spoil but they will lose potency over time and are best if used within six months of purchase. If you’re unsure of a spice’s freshness, take a sniff and if there’s no smell it’s had its day and should be replaced.

Our list of essential ingredients:

Tins
Baked beans
Soup
Tinned pulses (chick peas, lentils, kidney beans)
Tinned tuna
Tinned sweetcorn
Tinned tomatoes
Condensed milk
Tinned fruit
Coconut milk

Bottles, jars and cartons
Mayonnaise
Red wine vinegar
White wine vinegar – you might like to read up on all the wonderful things that vinegar can do.
Balsamic vinegar
Olive oil
Vegetable or sunflower oil
Mustard – English or Dijon or both
Honey
Soy sauce
Sesame oil
Tomato ketchup
Tomato purée
Passata
Long-life milk
Long-life fruit juice
Jam
Capers
Anchovies
Worcestershire sauce
Pesto
Sweet chilli sauce
Peri-Peri

Dried goods
Dried pasta
Egg noodles
Flour
Cornflour
Rice
Dried pulses
Porridge oats
Breakfast cereal
Dried fruit
Sugar
Icing sugar
Nuts
An assortment of stock cubes or stock concentrates
Cous cous
Spices
Black pepper
Maldon salt
Dried chilli flakes
Curry paste
Smoked Spanish paprika
Cinnamon
Cumin seeds
Coriander seeds
Mixed herbs
Dried oregano
Turmeric

Baking
Vanilla paste or essence
Dark chocolate
Natural food colouring
Baking soda
Sprinkles
Dried yeast
Cocoa powder

You might like to read more about our 10 great baking ingredients and find out about the magic of baking soda.
Oh and of course you could add some chocolate and sweets to the list.

Download print-friendly version of this list.

Are we missing anything? What’s on your list of pantry essentials?

With thanks to Jenna Viney for her advice on compiling this article.