You live off-campus. You’re hungry. You want to cook a meal for yourself but you are too exhausted to put in the effort. Instead, you call in delivery from some mediocre but fast restaurant and eat your food with flimsy plastic silverware. Sound familiar?
Cooking can be difficult and time-consuming but the benefits of enjoying a home-cooked meal far outweigh the costs of making it. One simple and easy way to start cooking for yourself more is to have the right ingredients on hand so that making a recipe doesn’t require a trip to the grocery store. Here are the basics that every home cook should have in his or her pantry and refrigerator:
Spices
Photo by Mackenzie Barth
Kosher Salt
Pepper
Red chili flakes
Garlic powder
Oregano
Cayenne pepper
Thyme
Cinnamon
Pantry
Photo by Kendra Valkema
Pasta
Bread
Couscous or quinoa
Rice
Tomato sauce
Canned beans
Canned diced tomatoes
Peanut butter
All-purpose flour
White sugar
Brown sugar
Baking powder
Baking soda
Chicken stock
Refrigerator
Photo by Christina Cala
Milk
Butter
Eggs
Cheese
Bacon
Carrots
Lemons
Orange juice
Apples
Tomatoes
Condiments
Photo by Benard Wen
Ketchup
Mayonnaise
Extra virgin olive oil (buy high quality)
Vegetable oil
Balsamic vinegar
White wine vinegar
Mustard (consider powdered mustard)
Honey
Soy sauce
Other Vegetables
Photo by Amanda Gajdosik
Garlic
Idaho potatoes
Yellow onions
Tips
Breads, meats and fish can be bought in bulk and frozen for a very long time.
Pre-frozen vegetables are another great option.
Apples, oranges and bananas are the fruits that keep the longest.