Store cupboard essentials

[WinkyisbackontheButterBeer]

I have come to the realisation that I am not very good at food shopping. I go, wonder aimlessly and then get home and realise that half of the things that I need are missing.
There’s is often little in the cupboards so I end up going regularly and I am sure it is costing more.
I think that half of the problem is that I often run out of basic things without realising it. I am a proper adult with a child and a professional job who most people would call organised so this isn’t good enough.
So please could you help and hit me with your list of essentials that you never run out of?

It sounds like making a meal plan could help?

I tend to always have:
Tinned tomatoes, beans (baked, chickpeas, cannelini), tinned sweetcorn, tuna/salmon/sardines, lentils, pasta sauce

Pasta, rice (including a few of those microwave pouches), dried noodles, couscous, microwave pouches of lentils/grains

Honey, jam, peanut butter, small bag of flour and sugar

Soy sauce, mayo, mustard, stock cubes, Bisto, a fajita kit, a whole random selection of spices including smoked paprika, cumin, harissa

In the freezer I have bread, frozen veggies, frozen fish fillets, prawns frozen fruit, mince, chicken breasts

I also have eggs, milk, cheese, yoghurt and a box of oats ...I can make a few different breakfast/lunch/dinner combos with that lot

A very basic store cupboard for me would be

Rice - basmati and risotto
Dried legumes - chickpeas, Cannellini beans, lentils, split peas
Pasta
Tinned tomatoes
Tomato paste
Tinned chickpeas and butter beans
Olive oil, butter, ghee
Frozen peas
Cheddar cheese
Parmesan cheese

Additionally, I always have garlic and ginger on hand as well as celery, carrots, onions and potatoes. I count these as “store cupboard” because they last ages.

I frequently cook meals from what’s listed here as I’m often too lazy to go to the shops. I do have a fully stocked spice cupboard as well as many condiments, which helps.

P.S I aspire to being a “proper adult” but don’t think I will ever get there!!

And forgot fish fingers/cakes and chips

Blondie

I usually go with a rough meal plan in mind but I like to be able to see what is in offer so it sometimes changes. It’s then that I need to have the basics store in place.

Thank you so much everyone. I am going to make a list, buy what I need and then tick it off as it is used so that I remember to buy more.

I use the term proper adult loosely. By that I mean that I am in my 30s and should be better at this.
In my head I am still 12.

What do you tend to cook/eat?

rolled oats
sultanas
almonds
coffee
hot chocolate
fruit infusion
peanut butter
honey

brown rice
wholemeal couscous
wholemeal pasta
red lentils
yellow split peas

tinned tomatoes
tinned chickpeas
tinned red kidney beans
baked beans

chicken stock cubes
vegetable stock cubes
chilli flakes
cumin
cinnamon
balsamic vinegar
olive oil
curry pastes

fresh ginger
fresh garlic
onions

cheddar cheese
milk
Greek yogurt
butter
eggs

I don’t tend to keep the cupboards loaded but I have enough so I can always cobble something together. Other than the obvious pasta, rice, tinned tomatoes, baked beans, tuna, sweetcorn kidney beans, flours, yeast, I think the things I use the most are the spices, seasonings, balsamic vinegar, a few dried herbs (but tend to use fresh), soy sauce and various condiments. I also tend to always have baking potatoes and sweet potatoes, wraps, onions, garlic, chillies, ginger in which all last pretty well and come in handy. Fridge always has a couple of different cheeses, eggs, creamcheese, bacon and like to keep a bag of frozen fish fillets in the freezer.

Whiteboard in the kitchen solved my problems take last tin of tomatoes out of cupboard on the board. Now don't run out of essentials.

I'm actually just looking at an Ainsley Harriot cook book and it has a great list of store cupboard essentials at the beginning. Jack Monroe's books also have similar.

Also yes yes yes to meal planning. Base it initially on what you've got in the house then top up what you need to make meals.

Pasta
Rice
Noodles
Potatoes
Onions
Grated cheese
Butter
Eggs
Cereal
Bread
Crumpets
Milk
Honey/jam/peanut butter
Tinned tomato
Mustard/mayonnaise
Greek yoghurt

In freezer usually:
Peas/broccoli
Couple of pizzas/garlic bread
Fish portions
Spare loaf of bread

Usually have in:
Beef mince to make bolognese sauce
Chicken portions

I was like this also! In my 30s, 2 children and I work and I was going to the supermarket every single day- still managed to feel like we had no food.

I started meal planning on a Sunday and then shopping for it, but also bulk bought some essentials like -

Tins-
Tomatoes

Chick peas
Kidney beans
Baked beans
Soup
Tuna
Sweetcorn

Rice
Pasta
Cous cous
Lentils
Pearl barley
Peanut butter
Marmite
Variety of herbs and spices - chilli powder, curry powder, paprika, cumin, turmeric, mixed Italian herbs, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice.

Passata
Curry paste
Coconut milk

Freezer -
Cod fillets
Peas
Veg
Rice

Then when I went shopping I just added the fresh stuff -

Chicken breasts
Mince
Chicken legs
Salad
Yoghurts
Bread
Hummus
Cheese
Milk
Fruit
Butter

We do tend to eat vaguely the same things week in week out, but once you have the essentials it’s really easy to top it up. I have a meal planner and list pad stuck to the fridge so I can add to it as we run out. It definitely works out cheaper to do it this way and far less stressful too.

I also found if you’re stuck what to make (and lack imagination like me) if you list a few of your ingredients in google some recipes will come up!

My Basics are

Fridge

Milk - at least 2 x 4 pints.
Butter
Eggs
cheese - Cheddar, philli, dairylea & parmesan. And I always 1 big block of cheddar for grated as it's cheaper then ready grated.
Lunch things - ham, chicken slices, yogurts
Fresh veg - carrots, broccoli. Plus whatever leafy green veg look good
Salad
bacon

Freezer

Peas
mixed veg
green beans
sweetcorn
mushrooms
Chips
Roast Pots.

Pizza
burgers - both chicken & beef
Fish fingers
Fish cakes
Chicken Thighs
Chicken Breasts
Mince - large and small
meatballs
sausages
Joints of meat = Pork, beef, chicken and Lamb
Chicken Nuggets - plain, spicy and southern fried.
Plus any freezer meals I've made or leftovers

Cupboard

Tins

Tomatoes - chopped - large and small
- Whole
- puree - tin and tube
Spaghetti - large & small
Beans - Large & small
tomato soup
Fruit
Rice pudding

Pasta
Rice - normally boil in the bag as we don't eat a lot of rice
egg noddles
pasta n sauce
flavored rice
Pot Noodles
Gravy
tomato sauce
HP sauce
Fruity sauce
Pickles
Veg oil
olive oil
chinese bits - soy, oyster, hoisen sauce

mustard powder
mustard
mint jelly
mixed herbs
salt & pepper
chinese 5 spice

You can build your herbs and spices as you need them.

Joints of meat I tend to buy them when they are on offer and buy a larger one and cut it half and freeze separately.