One of the best frugal tips I could give anyone is make your food from scratch, or as close to it as possible. To do this though there are a few must-have pantry staples that you should always have in your kitchen.

 

These items are usually inexpensive, have a long shelf life, and can be used and combined with other ingredients to make different meals. Now, remember some of these kitchen staples might not be a staple for your family.  Over time your staples will change to meet your family’s needs.

Frugal Pantry staples

Seasoning kitchen staples

The higher end seasonings taste better but don’t worry about buying expensive spices all at once. If you want higher end spices to start out buying one per week and the rest store brand.

 

• Salt
• Black pepper
• bay leaves
• cayenne pepper
• crushed red pepper
• Cumin
• Oregano
• Paprika
• Rosemary
• thyme leaves
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Allspice
• Ginger
• nutmeg
• chili powder
• Italian seasoning
• Vanilla extract

 

Baking kitchen staples

Dry goods are usually the least expensive and most versatile ingredients in your kitchen. If you don’t have a place to store your flour remember you can freeze it! For everything else, you can buy storage container that seals air tight.

 

• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Brown sugar
• Cornstarch
• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Cornmeal
• Rolled Oats

Cold kitchen staples

Be Careful and watch for expiration dates.

• Butter
• Cheese: sharp cheddar & mozzarella
• Large eggs
• Milk
• Plain yogurt
• Corn tortillas
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard

Produce kitchen staples

Make sure you don’t keep your onions and potatoes in the same place it can make them root quicker.

• Frozen Fruit: Strawberries, blueberries
• Frozen Veggies: Bell pepper, onion, corn, and peas
• Garlic
• Onions-  red & yellow
• Potatoes
• Raisins
• Apples
• Almonds
• Peanuts

Oils kitchen staples

Oils can add a lot of flavor to your cooking. Don’t buy the most expensive stuff though. Until you know what you like, you won’t notice the difference.

• Vegetable or canola
• extra virgin olive oil
• toasted sesame oil
• non-stick spray

Canned goods kitchen staples

• Tomatoes (paste, diced, sauce/puréed)
• Beans
• Pumpkin Purée
• Pasta Sauce 
• Coconut Milk

 

Having a fully stocked pantry helps keep your weekly meal planning trips from costing so much. You’re able to make quick meals even when you haven’t had a lot of time to plan.

Now don’t think you have to buy all of these right now. Don’t bust your budget instead buy a few each week until you have a fully stocked kitchen. Make sure you are using your price book.