Stocking your Pantry

June 22, 2011 By Leanne Vogel July 16, 2015

I get so many questions about how I stock my pantry! I guess you could say there is a bit of system behind it, so I figured I’d share the approach I use to ensure I have ample supplies in my home for many a healthful baking adventure. For a handy dandy take-along of the below info, you can download the letter-sized pdf here. Okay, let’s get to it!

Grains

I purchase my grains from local farmers. If you don’t have access to this sort of thing, and there are no bulk stores near your home, you could try ordering grains online through Amazon, or if you’re in Canada, Upaya Naturals is a great source. My pantry is stocked with:

• Quinoa
• Buckwheat
• Brown rice
• Wild rice
• Millet
• Quinoa flakes
• Uncontaminated oats
• Amaranth

Pulses

Cooking your own pulses is always better (with a pressure cooker or soaked overnight + boiled). If that’s not an option, canned will have to do! I generally stock up on:

• Lentils
• Black beans
• Chickpeas
• Pinto beans
• Kidney beans

Nuts + Seeds

I store my nuts and seeds in 1L mason jars in the fridge to prevent them from going rancid. The nuts and seeds I always have on hand include:

• Sunflower seeds
• Sesame seeds
• Flax seed
• Chia seed
• Hemp seed
• Pumpkin [pepita] seeds
• Almonds
• Cashews
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Coconut

Dried fruit

This is by far my favorite section in our pantry. I keep all of my dried fruit hidden away in dark plastic containers in the corner of the pantry. Why? Because Kevin hates dried fruit, so much so that he doesn’t even like looking at it. Some people are afraid of spiders, others, dried fruit. Go figure. My all-time favorite dried fruits you’ll find in my pantry:

• Raisins
• Medjool dates
• Prunes
• Apricots

Condiments & baking supplies

This varies greatly on what your diet consists of. For me, I try to use the cleanest, most wholesome ingredients I can get. I attempt to stick to a set list of baking items to make it easier for you guys to make my recipes. Nothing’s worse than having to go out and get a new product with each recipe you want to try! I also have a set list of 4 favorite flours that I rotate to avoid sensitivities from popping up. My favorites are:

• Balsamic vinegar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Unrefined extra virgin coconut oil
• Flax oil (keep in the fridge)
• Sunflower oil
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Unpasteurized honey
• Arrowroot powder
• Gluten-free flours: almond, coconut, sorghum, and chickpea
• Non-dairy milks like hemp, rice, soy, coconut and almond
• Apple juice
• Molasses
• Palm/coconut sugar
• White powdered stevia
• Ground stevia leaf
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Cacao powder
• Vanilla extract or bean powder
• Spices
• Bouillon cubes [chicken, beef, vegetable, onion, whatever your preference. I like vegetable the best because it’s the most versatile!]
• Herbamare

Extra goodies

Because we all need a little treat once in awhile! We keep the following snacky things on hand all the times:

• Mary’s Crackers (use as croutons on salad)
• LARABARs
• BBQ and Original Baked Kettle Chips
• Perky’s Crunchy Flax cereal
• Roasted, salted pistachio nuts
• Gluten-free granola

 

Do’s

• Use air-tight containers to store all of your foods in your pantry. It will keep things tidy and prevent foods from going stale. Also, it’s easy to see when something is running out. A couple of products I like to use to store my products are mason jars, pyrex, and crate & barrel containers.
• Pick up 1 new spice every time you’re at the grocery store. That way you’re not spending loads of money on a whole collection, but picking away at it. My absolute essentials are: cinnamon, nutmeg, dill, oregano, and basil.
• Store spices in air-tight containers too!
• Keep a grocery list on the fridge. When you run out of a pantry item, write it down and pick it up next time you’re at the store.
• Keep your pantry organized. Separate your foods into sections like baking supplies [flours, sugars, etc], pastas + grains, canned foods [this section should be small!], snacks [dried fruits + crackers], condiments. By keeping your items together it will be much easier to find things and you’ll actually be more willing to spend time in your kitchen!

Don’ts

• Store chia, hemp, or flax in the pantry. Keep them in the fridge.
• Think you need a fully stocked pantry right away! Pick away at it. Start with 1 grain, 1 pulse, 1-2 nuts and seeds, a couple of condiments, and work your way to a larger collection.

What essentials do you have in your pantry? Did you find this guide helpful?