You can stock your pantry with good for you foods that will also last a long time! Keep these foods on hand for hard times or just simple meals. This list of frugal pantry staples to stock up on will get you on your way to a well stocked pantry.
Why stock your pantry?
Today, many people go to the grocery store multiple times a week. I can remember doing this in college because I was only five minutes from the grocery store. I became used to it again when we lived in Texas. However, I grew up twenty five minutes from the nearest grocery store and that is where we live today. We make one trip to the grocery store once a week for fresh things like dairy and fruit. The rest of our food comes from everything we have preserved ourselves or bought in bulk for our pantry.
We have learned over the years that keeping a well stocked pantry not only saves us time, but a lot of money as well. Stocking up on dry goods that can last up to 6 months or even years is great for food security. While I don’t believe in hard core prepping, I do believe in being prepared. And whether that is for job loss or illness, having plenty of food in your pantry can help get you through hard times.
Use what you store
My husband and I want to be good stewards of all that God has given us. That includes having a well stocked frugal pantry. It also means using up the foods that we have bought in bulk so that they don’t go to waste. Sometimes this might mean eating a lot of beans for a couple of months. It also means we have to be somewhat organized with our food storage, rotating things out throughout the year.
Learning to cook things from scratch is a needed skill when you want to store and use these frugal pantry staples to stock up on. Only choose ingredients that you know you will use. Also, this list is not a complete list of pantry staples. These are frugal dry goods to get you started on a well stocked pantry.
1. Dry Beans
This is probably the most nutritious food on this list. Beans are chock full of protein, fat and vitamins. Dry beans are also incredibly versatile. They can be used in soups, chilis, even baked goods. Of course, you can also simply season them well and use them as a side dish.
Dry beans are also fairly inexpensive, especially when bought in bulk. We buy 25 pounds each of pinto and navy beans from Azure Standard once every couple of years. Dry beans can have a shelf life for several years, typically 3 when stored properly.
2. Rice
While not super nutritious, rice does help to bulk up meals. It also has a great shelf life. Most sources say that rice has a shelf life of up to two years, but I am sure many have pushed that limit with success. Rice may be more versatile than beans. It can be used in soups, side dishes, desserts and of course fried rice! You can also increase the nutrition of rice by cooking it in bone broth.
Rice is also one of the most affordable dry goods that you can buy. We usually buy a large bag of basmati rice from Sam’s club once a year and it lasts sometimes longer than that.
3. Oats
Oats are great to have on hand whether for baking, oatmeal and even replacing bread crumbs in recipes. They are nutritious as well. The boast plenty of potassium, calcium and iron as well as protein. Their nutrition can also be boosted by soaking them overnight with a little apple cider vinegar.
Oat groats have an incredible shelf life of at least ten years with proper storage. Even old fashioned oats can have a shelf life of up to 1 year.
4. Flour/Wheat Berries
Wheat berries can last for 10 years with the right storage. If you have a grain mill, this is the way to go. However, storing flour in bulk is a good idea as well. Flour lasts around 6 months in the pantry. You can freeze flour to make it last longer too.
I think most of us know the uses of flour. Besides baking, flour can be used to thicken soups, make cheese sauces and gravy as well. It is incredibly handy to have on hand. While not nearly as cheap, even keeping gluten free flour in bulk can save you money.
5. Cornmeal
Cornmeal is pretty much a staple pantry ingredient in the South. I grew up on cornbread as a side dish where bread or rolls would normally be. For us, it is an inexpensive staple. We can not only make cornmeal, but johnny cakes, corn muffins, casseroles and polenta.
I try to get only non-gmo cornmeal which I find at Azure Standard in bulk. Cornbread makes an excellent alternative for many dishes if you know you don’t have time to bake bread.
6. Popping Corn
Stovetop popcorn is one of my kids’ favorite snacks. We use ghee or coconut oil to pop it. Simply topping it with salt is delicious. Popcorn makes for a very frugal and filling whole grain snack. Not to mention, it can last a week in a ziploc on the counter. Check out this tutorial on how to make stovetop popcorn yourself!
7. Canned fish
While canned fish has gone up in price, just like everything else, it is so nutrient dense that it’s worth it to keep in the pantry. Tuna and sardines make up the most frugal options. If those options turn you off, there’s always canned salmon and mackerel.
Canned fish is very shelf stable. Most of the time, the expiration date is around 2 years after the purchase. Shop around for the best prices. I have found that Aldi has the best price on canned wild caught salmon and we use this frequently to make salmon patties as a quick dinner.
8. Salt
Salt is necessary for life. And I don’t mean the processed Iodized salt. We buy salt 50 lbs. of mineral salt at a time. Azure Standard has a fine himalayan salt in bulk that we love. Salt is not only necessary for seasoning, but also preserving. Salt is inexpensive and can go a long way in a well stocked pantry. It is also incredibly shelf stable as long as it’s kept dry.
9. Sugar
While not necessary, sugar is a great frugal pantry staple that we use often. I try and limit our sugar intake, but I do frequently make treats and desserts. Also, we use sugar in our jam and jelly recipes throughout the Spring and Summer. Sugar is very shelf stable like salt as long as it’s kept dry.
10. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a great multi-use pantry staple. I use it to clean and bake, but also for our goats. While baking powder is equally great to always have on hand for baking, it is a bit more expensive. Baking soda can be found in bulk for cheap. And with all of its uses, it is a necessity.
11. Vinegar
I always have several gallons of white vinegar in our pantry. It can be used in laundry, cleaning, cooking and preserving foods. Other types of vinegars are good to keep around too for cooking purposes. Apple cider vinegar is good for cooking, cleaning and animal health as well.
12. Peanut Butter
This one is last on the list because it’s not always the most frugal option. However, depending on what type of peanut butter you choose, you can get it relatively cheap when bought in bulk. Peanut butter is great alone, on sandwiches of course, but also in baking recipes. It is also shelf stable for up to 1 year.
I hope you enjoy this list of frugal pantry staples to stock up on. It is a great list to get you started. Having a well stocked pantry not only makes you feel more secure, but also gives you options to whip up healthy meals at anytime.
