Kitchen Essentials

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My friend Chris recently asked if I had a list of pantry items that new cooks should have on hand to make cooking more accessible. While I did not have a list at my fingertips, the thought of creating one excited me. My kids are all out of the house, each embarking on their own cooking journeys. I am so proud that they seem to enjoy cooking and are willing to be adventurous in their attempts. Cooking should be fun. Of course, there will be fails along the way, but rarely is something so bad that you can’t eat it (especially if you’ve made it!).

Along these lines, I am reminded of a conversation I recently had with Kyle, my oldest. He was getting frustrated with some of his kitchen fails, and I noticed that he was improvising a lot. I explained that to successfully “wing it,” you need experience to draw on. Therefore, working with recipes for a while helps you understand what works, and from there, you can make your own adjustments. It’s a process, a journey, and you really can’t skip the learning step.

So this post is for the young adults in your life. Please share it with them and, if you are able, help them get started on stocking their pantry. Getting started is both the hardest and most expensive part. What a great graduation gift for someone’s first post-college home!

While you are at it, tell your young adults to subscribe to Sly Rooster so they can receive the weekly recipes, scroll through the expansive Recipe Index where I’ve created a category called “New Cooks,” and they can use “easy” in the keyword search to discover additional recipes that are straightforward to prepare but might rely on ingredients not included in the starter list below.

Okay, so here we go New Cooks and the people who love them. Let’s get cooking!

Throwback to Lucas + Kyle making their first
Family Dinner

DRY GOODS/SPICES

  • Morton’s Kosher Salt
  • Brown Sugar
  • Whole Peppercorns (w/grinder)
  • Sesame Seeds
  • Garlic Powder
  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Crushed Red Pepper
  • Dried Oregano
  • Curry Powder
  • Cooking Spray (oil)
  • Corn Starch
  • Ground Cumin
  • Chili Powder
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Dried Thyme

PANTRY

  • Low Sodium Soy Sauce
  • Rice Vinegar
  • Toasted Sesame Oil
  • Canned Crushed Tomatoes
  • Canned Coconut Milk
  • Favorite Hot Sauce
  • Sriracha
  • Pasta
  • Olive Oil
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Honey
  • Rao’s Tomato Sauce
  • Peanut Butter
  • Canned Tuna/Salmon
  • Ketchup
  • Tomato Paste
  • Real Maple Syrup
  • Chili Sauce (Sambal Olek)
  • Dijon Mustard
  • Canned Beans (black, garbanzo, etc.)
  • Salsa
  • Rice (White, Brown, Sushi)
  • Barbecue Sauce

FROZEN

  • Ground Beef/Pork/Chicken
  • Peas/Broccoli/Fave Veggie
  • Pierogies (saute an onion–dinner, voila!)
  • Frozen Salmon (6 oz portions)
  • Dumplings
  • Chicken Breasts
  • Breaded Chicken/Fish
  • Fresh Ginger
  • French Fries (why not?)

FRESH FOOD

  • Yellow Onions
  • Carrots
  • Potatoes (reg or sweet)
  • Dairy (milk, mozzarella, Parmesan, sour cream, plain yogurt–whatever you prefer and think you’ll consume in a week)
  • Tortillas
  • Scallions
  • Celery
  • Firm Tofu
  • Lemon/Lime
  • Better Than Boullion (chicken or vegetable)
  • Mayonaisse
  • Eggs
  • Garlic
  • Vegetable (whatever looks good: broccoli, green beans, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, spinach, cabbage, etc.–buy 1-2 at a time)
  • Fresh Herbs (parsley, basil, cilantro or dill–buy 1 at a time)
  • Unsalted Butter

KITCHEN ESSENTIALS

  • Cutting Board
  • Saute Pan (w/ Lid-bonus)
  • Sharp Chef’s Knife
  • Whisk
  • Ladle
  • Stock Pot w/ Lid
  • Vegetable Peeler
  • Tongs
  • Rimmed Baking Sheet
  • Smaller Pot w/ Lid
  • Microplane Grater
  • Silicone Spatula
  • Colander
  • Wooden Spoon

NICE TO HAVE

  • Toaster Oven
  • Air Fryer
  • Rice Cooker
  • Food Processor
  • Immersion Blender