Fridge, freezer, store cupboard essentials

[OxanaVorontsova]

What are your must-haves? We’re about to restock and looking for some new ideas.

Tins of pulses - chickpeas, brown lentils, black beans. Chopped tomatoes.
A butternut squash (keeps for months)
Dried porcini mushrooms

Depends what you cook though! The above are all ingredients I make some of our staple meals with.

Frozen peas, onions, sofrito mix, bread that freezes well, couscous, frozen stir fry vegetables, chopped chicken breast...
Things to put together a super quick chunky soup / stir fry when starving with a small baby!
Also batchelor's type pasta for emergencies, can be boosted nutritionally with broccoli, chicken etc
Breaded chicken, fish and meatballs to combine with chips & peas. Powder katsu curry and gravy.
Tomato paste and chopped tomatoes for quick spag bol

Store cupboard: pasta, rice, canned tomato, oil, vinegar, soy sauce, siracha, cans of pulses, eggs, coconut milk, spices and herbs, lentils, soy mix

Fridge: plain yoghurt, butter

Freezer: spinach, onions, berries, herbs, smoothie mix (I make it myself), bread, chicken, fish fingers, mash, sausages

Tins: tomatoes, chickpeas, lentils, cannellini beans, kidney beans, black beans, coconut milk, sweetcorn, custard, pears, pineapple.
Other store cupboard: passata, basmati rice, spaghetti, pasta, cous cous, red lentils. Lots of herbs and spices but the core essentials are cumin, Coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, ginger, chilli powder, oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage. Salt, pepper, vegetable oil and sunflower oil. Eggs. Soy sauce, mustard, honey, peanut butter, vinegar.
Freezer: peas, mixed fruit, breadcrumbs (made from crusts). The freezer is mainly full of portions of meals or food that was going to go out of date rather than essentials.
Vegetarian hence so many pulses.

Depends on what you like to eat! Also veggie here so:

fridge:

• dairy: butter, cheddar, eggs, Parmesan - all last several weeks at least, plain yogurt usually can last 2-3 weeks too
• veg: onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots
• fruit: generally keep bananas, oranges & blueberries in
• freezer: frozen chips or similar, veggie sausages, veggie meatballs, vanilla ice cream (to go with things), bread/rolls, frozen berries, frozen pastry

cupboards:

• uht milk, dried milk
• tea, coffee, cocoa etc
• pulses - tinned & dried (lentils, chickpeas & black beans are my favourites)
• tins: baked beans, tinned soup
• dried soya mince, dry burger/sausagemix
• chopped tomatoes/passata
• pesto
• pasta, rice, quinoa, noodles
• tortilla wraps, part baked bread
• herbs & spices, stock cubes, Tom purée, gravy granules, vinegar (red wine or cider preferably), soy sauce, salt
• peanut butter
• honey & jam, sugar (white & brown for baking), chocolate for baking (eg choc chip cookies)
• flour : plain, SR, brown for bread, yeast & baking powder
• nuts, dried fruit, chia & linseed (regularly eat these for breakfast)
• oats, any other cereal (muesli/granola)
• drinks: uht orange juice, cordial if you drink that, couple of bottles of water

I like to keep my kitchen pretty stocked & just need green veg & milk on top of that to make a variety of meals

Tinned tomatoes, tinned kidney beans and chickpeas
Pasta, rice, noodles, orzo, couscous, red lentils - mostly dry but always keep a couple of microwave pouches for last minute meals
Pesto, tomato puree, curry powder, stock cubes and lots of dried herbs and spices, miso paste
Flour, sugar and other baking supplies
Oats
Tinned tuna and mackerel in tomato sauce
Onions and garlic
Teabags (regular, decaf and herbal)
Oatcakes/crackers

My fresh food changes week to week but every shop includes milk, bread, lemons, natural yoghurt, peppers, cheese and a variety of fruit

Only have a tiny freezer so it's limited to peas, frozen berries, chips and a couple of portions of leftovers which are frequently replenished. My dream house would have space for a deep chest freezer... One day hopefully!