Trying to cook more at home can feel like an uphill struggle. Let’s say you’ve just arrived home after a long day at work. You need to cook something, so you find a recipe on CooksDream, and open up your pantry only to find it surprisingly bare. Why don’t you ever have the ingredients you need? Why are other people you know able to procure 3-course meals without any preparation? The truth is that they likely stock their pantry with essential ingredients.

But what are these essential ingredients? If you’re wondering about this, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’re going to take you through a list of the 5 essential ingredients that every pantry needs. With these ingredients, you should find a lot of cooking opportunities open up to you! 

5 Essential Ingredients For Your Pantry

1. Olive Oil

If you’ve ever watched a cooking tutorial on YouTube by a professional chef, then you’ll know that they use a lot of olive oil. This is because it’s one of the most important ingredients in a whole host of different dishes.

 Olive oil is extremely versatile as far as ingredients go, as you can use it in many different ways across a selection of cooking styles. Olive oil is also healthy for you, making it a great choice to always have in your pantry.

2. Salt and Pepper

Two of the most commonly used seasonings are salt and pepper. You’ll find that they are added—in at least some way—to every dish you come across. Salt gives a deliciously savory taste that can transform even the blandest ingredient into something delicious, while pepper is a tangy addition that adds texture and complexity; especially when it is mixed with salt. We would recommend keeping both of these ingredients handy in your pantry so that you can get used to using them and making everything taste incredible! 

3. Pasta & Noodles

These two carbohydrates are going to be the base for so many delicious dishes. Whether you’re whipping up a delicate Italian pasta dish or throwing together a quick stirfry, both pasta and noodles are an amazing pair of ingredients to keep in your pantry.

 We’d recommend getting the highest quality of each that you can afford, but don’t feel like you have to make your own from scratch, as this can be overwhelming and time-consuming.

4. Stock

The three best choices you have when it comes to stock are chicken, beef, and vegetable. Each one of them offers you some incredible opportunities to add flavor to your meals. Stock is the basis for a lot of different rustic dishes, whether that’s a fragrant curry or hearty stew.

One of the best things about stock is that it’s very cheap and often sold in multipacks, offering you the chance to spread your purchase out across multiple meals. Having a good amount of stock in your pantry can transform some of the most boring meals of the week into something you can be proud of. 

5. Canned Tomato

Like stock, canned tomatoes are one of the most important base items you can have in your pantry. From soups and chili, to casseroles, ragus, and curries, having a lot of chopped tomatoes in your pantry can open up a world of dishes for your to explore. They also pair amazingly well with the pasta, olive oil, and salt and pepper we’ve previously mentioned. 

Canned tomatoes are a very cheap, versatile food that you’ll be able to find in any good grocery store. Make sure to have upwards of 10 cans in your pantry at any time, as they will last forever due to the tight seal of the can. 

Final Thoughts

So that was our list of the 5 essential ingredients that every pantry needs. Although these items are some of the most important, keep in mind that they are only a part of the story. To make a good dish, you’ll also need a series of special ingredients which should be purchased during your weekly shop, or after you’ve honed in on a particular recipe. 

We hope that this article has helped you to understand some of the most basic ingredients that you should keep in your pantry and that you’re now more confident about what to stock up on. Cooking should be fun and stress-free, and keeping a good supply of basic ingredients can be a perfect way to achieve this. Best of luck on your cooking adventure, we hope you have some tasty dishes soon!