Tips on Running a Household: Well-Stocked Pantry

WELL-STOCKED PANTRY

There's nothing worse than wanting to make some kind of treat and suddenly finding out that you don't have enough flour. Over the years, I've perfected the art of keeping a stocked pantry. It's super easy to do. It's something I picked up from my mom.

Throughout the month I keep a list of things that I'm running low on. It's just a slip of paper on the side of the fridge. When I'm getting low on baking powder, for example, I write it on the list. If I find a recipe for some dessert I'm dying to try, but I don't have the ingredients, I write it on the list. When the kids eat the second to last box of macaroni and cheese, we write it on the list. It's not just pantry and food items, it's also household items, like soaps and cleaners. When it's time to make my grocery list I have a start. Basically it's my reminder. And it works! I almost never run out of the basic pantry items, and items we use often.

Now, if you're just starting out, don't feel like you need a huge amount of ingredients. Just start with the basics. Then as you start figuring out what your family likes and eats often, include those items on your pantry list. Below, I've listed what I consider my basic "can't do without" pantry items.

Basic Pantry Items

Flour
Sugar
Salt
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Cocoa
Shortening
Brown Sugar
Powdered Sugar
Oats, quick and regular
Rice
Cornstarch
Yeast {I keep it in the fridge to lengthen shelf life}
Chocolate Chips
Peanut Butter
Honey

Below are some things I also like to keep on hand all the time. Tailor your list to your families needs and likes. For example, if you never make bread or rolls, there is no need for you to stock bread flour or yeast.

Expanded Pantry List

Macaroni and Cheese
Noodles {various kinds}
Koolaid
Bread Flour
Wheat Flour {or wheat to grind into flour}
Spaghetti Sauce
Pizza Sauce
Mixes - like gravy, taco, ranch, pudding etc.
Crackers {saltine, graham}
Herbs and Spices
Canned goods {veggies, fruits, cream soups, beans, etc}
Ketchup
Mustard
Mayo/Salad Dressing


Non-Food items don't go in my pantry, but they are just as important to keep on hand. I like to keep at least one extra of these items, sometimes more - depending on how quickly we go through it. When I grab the last one from the shelf, then it gets written on the list.

Non-Food Items

Bar Soap
Dish Soap/Dishwasher Soap
Hand Soap
Shampoo
Conditioner
Deoderant
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Bathroom Cleaners
Laundry Soap
Dryer Sheets
Lotion
Toothpaste



What have I missed? What are your "must-have" pantry items?


 You may also like:

3 Steps to an Organized Pantry

Other Tips on Running a Household:
Menu Planning
Well-Stocked Pantry
Food Storage