The Secret to Stocking Your Pantry with Ingredients You'll Actually Use

A well-stocked pantry is a game-changer. Whether you're a novice in the kitchen or a seasoned chef, having a pantry filled with essentials makes whipping up dinner a breeze. This is especially true when you're short on time, unsure what to cook, or just not in the mood to spend too long in the kitchen.

Most people have a general idea of what belongs in a well-stocked pantry—things like salt, pepper, pasta, and canned beans. But I encourage you to dive deeper with a detailed guide on pantry staples. Comparing your pantry to a comprehensive list can help you identify what's missing and what you might want to add.

But here's the next step: I want to take your pantry organization—and the cooking possibilities it opens up—to the next level with one simple, yet powerful, idea.

Does your family have particular food preferences or strong dislikes? I'm betting they do! We all have our favorites and aversions. This is why I recommend tailoring your pantry to the tastes of the people you're feeding. Customizing your pantry isn’t complicated—it just involves building on the basics with a few thoughtful additions to make sure everything you love to cook (and eat!) is within easy reach.

Personally, I consider my freezer (and even my fridge, to a degree) an extension of my pantry. So, when stocking up, I also include a few long-lasting refrigerated items. Below, you'll find a few examples of how you can tailor your pantry to reflect the flavors and cuisines you love most.

Italian/Mediterranean

Italian and Mediterranean cuisine is one of my absolute favorites. If you're stocked up on dried pasta in various shapes, you're off to a great start. From there, I recommend adding the following pantry essentials:

• Good canned whole tomatoes;San Marzanos from Italy really are the best, but be sure to read the fine print on the label, as San Marzanos grown elsewhere are typically not as delicious.
• Red pepper flakes
• Canned anchovies; Seriously, don't assume you don't like them!
• Capers
• Olives; Kalamatas are a good all-purpose black olive to keep on hand.
• Arborio rice
• Good canned tuna
• Frozen shrimp
• Garlic; You can stash fresh garlic in the freezer to extend its lifespan.
• Parmigiano or Grana Padano cheese
• Tahini
• A "daily" olive oil
• A really good olive oil; One to use for "finishing" dishes.
• Tomato paste; Preferably, go for the variety packaged in a tube instead of a can.

Asian

The term 'Asian cuisine' encompasses many different regions—Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, and more. However, there are a few key ingredients common to many of these culinary traditions that will have your pantry ready to satisfy your cravings. These are my go-to ingredients:

• Soy sauce; It's worth tasting a few varieties to determine your favorite or favorites.
• Toasted sesame oil
• Sesame seeds
• Fish sauce
• Garlic; You can stash fresh garlic in the freezer to extend its lifespan.
• Ginger; You can also stash fresh ginger in the freezer to extend its lifespan.
• Rice noodles
• Soba noodles
• Frozen dumplings
• Thai curry paste; It never hurts to have various types.
• Sambal oelek and/or sriracha
• Kimchi
• Rice; Again, it doesn't hurt to have a few varieties.

Indian

Indian cuisine’s vast range of flavors and techniques makes it one of my absolute favorite types of food to cook. A few staple items I always keep stocked for making Indian dishes include:

• Cumin seeds
• Onions
• Garlic; You can stash fresh garlic in the freezer to extend its lifespan.
• Ginger; You can also stash fresh ginger in the freezer to extend its lifespan.
• Shallots
• Cardamom; I prefer buying it whole and grating it as needed.
• Coriander seeds
• Hot peppers; It's best to have a variety of whole and powdered
• Canned coconut milk
• Basmati rice
• Garam masala
• Curry powder;I'd recommend that you make your own but that's a whole other conversation.
• Mustard powder
• Ground turmeric

Tex-Mex

Tex-Mex is a beloved cuisine across the U.S. If your family is especially fond of it, here are a few pantry essentials to always have on hand:

• Tortillas; Both corn and flour are great to have.
• Beans; This is a basic pantry staple for many already, but for Tex-Mex dishes, you'll especially want to make sure to have black and pinto beans — canned and/or dried.
• Chiles; Having whole and powdered is ideal.
• Dried oregano; Having dried oregano along with various powdered chiles allows you to make your own chili powder, which you can customize to your own flavor preferences.
• Cumin seeds
• Red pepper flakes
• Hot sauce; Keep as many varieties as you like around.
• Garlic; You can stash fresh garlic in the freezer to extend its lifespan.
• Onions
• Canned chipotles in adobo; This ingredient is a real game changer.

Am I suggesting that you need every single item on these lists? Absolutely not. However, a carefully selected set of pantry items from these categories will make your life much easier when you’re craving one of these types of cuisines. Of course, you’ll still need to add some fresh ingredients (like cheeses, scallions, herbs, etc.) to complete certain dishes. But with your pantry stocked thoughtfully, you’ll be well on your way to quick and delicious meals!