Website for pantry basics?

[bas71873]

I googled that and there are quite a few. Anyone use one they really like? I feel like I am constantly at the grocery store, but then I feel like I never have anything to to put together dinner.

 

[Marionnette]

I googled that and there are quite a few. Anyone use one they really like? I feel like I am constantly at the grocery store, but then I feel like I never have anything to to put together dinner.

I don't use any website lists because none of them will cover all of the things I use and many include things that I will never use. For instance, RealSimple.com has a list that doesn't include celery - a basic ingredient for creating a mirepoix. But they have frozen shrimp on their list, which I would never use.

Take a look at several websites with pantry lists. Then go through your recipes and make a list of what you use frequently. Those would be your pantry staples.

It's also a good idea to create a weekly menu before you do your shopping. Get everything you need when you make that single trip and hopefully you'll only need to make grocery stops for milk during the week.

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

There are two approaches that I use for this problem (I am I am sure others have more).

1. Similar to Marionnette, we keep what we know we will need stocked up. I recently started a notebook of recipes with tried and true ones my family loves and will eat. I keep those ingredients in my pantry. There are always at least a handful of quick meals I can pull together. And the kids are learning how to cook them too.

2. Menu plan. Make out a detailed one week menu of breakfast, lunch & dinner. You can even do this in food.com with recipes if you are registered. Shop to fill your pantry with those ingredients. Repeat the next week.

I once went though lots of pantry staples website lists in hopes of finding a magical one but none really fit my family. It's sort of like a vacation packing list, there may be stuff on there you don't need and missing stuff you do.

 

[acename]

While I agree with the previous posters that you should go by what you use the most, I found the list for a frugal pantry on www.goodcheapeats.com very helpful. She broke it down into 12 catagories and explains why she chose each item and what she does with each item. I think it's a good place to start.

 

[bas71873]

While I agree with the previous posters that you should go by what you use the most, I found the list for a frugal pantry on www.goodcheapeats.com very helpful. She broke it down into 12 catagories and explains why she chose each item and what she does with each item. I think it's a good place to start.

Thanks. I'm going to check this one out and see if it gets me started. I make a weekly meal plan and am good about sticking to that at the grocery, but then if I change my mind about what to have, I don't have anything to make something else . I think too I'm bored with the usual meals and need to shake things up. I've pinned a bazillion recipes on Pinterest, maybe it's time I try some