The leaves are gone from the trees, the days are long and dark, and the smell of wood smoke hangs in the air. Winter is in full swing and now is the time for warm blankets, flannel shirts, and cozy meals. And to make it easy, I like to keep my winter pantry stocked with the things I need to make all of my favorite hearty recipes. Ingredients for casseroles and soups, and for baking up bread and our favorite treats.
I like to keep my pantry well-stocked all year, but in the winter it’s extra important. This is the time of year when my garden is bare and I rely heavily on food storage to make meals for my family. Forget those cardboard winter tomatoes from the grocery store. Now is the time to use the good canned tomatoes and tomato sauce.
To give you some ideas to stock your pantry for the winter months, I’ve made a list of the things I like to keep stocked in my own pantry. And if this looks like an impossibly long list, know that it’s just meant to give you some inspiration. You will find your list is probably different from mine.
Also, some of the items on my list (some canned tomatoes, canned and dehydrated vegetables, and jellies and jam) are preserved by me throughout the summer and early fall. But a lot of these items are things I pick up at my local supermarket (preferably on sale) or order online.
Let me also just mention that we have no specific dietary restrictions in our family. We pretty much eat everything. I do keep a few gluten-free items in the pantry for when our gluten-free friends or family visit. But it goes without saying that if you’re using my list for inspiration, you’ll need to alter it to suit your family’s dietary preferences, allergies, and eating plans.
Before I get to my list, here is one more disclaimer: I cook a lot from scratch, it’s true. However, I’m no perfectionist. I like to have a few convenience items in my pantry. Sometimes I need to bake something quick when we get unexpected guests, or sometimes the whole house is feeling under the weather and I can barely muster up the strength to boil water. Or it could happen that I just don’t feel like cooking but don’t want to order takeout. I like to be prepared for these inevitabilities and have a few super-easy things at the ready.
Keep in mind, that this list is just dry goods – nothing for the fridge, freezer, or root cellar. Now for the list (loosely organized into categories):
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Winter Pantry List
Ingredients for Soups, Stews, Casseroles, and other Cozy Meals:
- Chicken, Beef and Vegetable Base (good for an easy broth or to add extra flavor to homemade stock)
- Egg Noodles
- Pasta
- Freeze-dried and dehydrated vegetables and fruits – potatoes, cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, celery, mushrooms, berries, apples )
- Canned tomatoes (diced, crushed, and whole)
- Tomato paste
- Tomato sauce
- Canned mixed vegetables (good for pot pies and quick stews)
- Canned green beans, corn, carrots, and other vegetables
- Canned potatoes
- Canned beans
- Canned fruit
- Dried beans and lentils
- Rice, barley, quinoa, grits, oatmeal, and other grains
- Canned coconut milk
- Breadcrumbs
- Canned sauerkraut
- Pickles and relishes
- Canned beets
- Oil – I always have olive oil, avocado oil, sesame oil
- Vinegar – I always have apple cider, red wine, and balsamic
- Rice
- Roasted Red Peppers
- Anchovy paste (for Caesar dressing)
- Condiments – Dijon mustard, organic ketchup, salsa, mayonnaise, prepared horseradish, hot sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce
- Grated Parmesan and Romano cheese
Ingredients for Baking:
- All-purpose flour
- Whole wheat flour
- Cornmeal
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Cream of tartar
- Dry active yeast
- Molasses
- Maple syrup
- Honey
- Granulated can sugar
- Brown sugar
- Nuts (usually always pecans and walnuts)
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Evaporated milk
- Graham crackers
- Spices for holiday cooking and baking – Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger, cardamom, poultry seasoning (I like Bell’s)
- Raisins and dried cranberries (and/or other dried fruit)
- Apple butter
- Applesauce
- Canned pumpkin
- Cocoa powder
- Chocolate chips
Convenience Ingredients for Quick and Easy Meals:
- A few good quality, premade baking mixes
- Pasta sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- Chili beans
- Baked beans
- Canned chicken
- Canned tuna
- Canned salmon
- Canned sardines (this one is for our dogs)
- Premade seasoning and spice mixes (store-bought or homemade) – I like to have taco seasoning, curry powder, creole or cajun, seafood seasoning, chili powder, Greek seasoning, and Italian seasoning
- Taco shells and corn tortillas
- Canned Soups
- Sauces and other special flavors like BBQ, jarred pesto, and chili sauce
- Boxes of macaroni and cheese (for a quick meal)
- Ramen noodles (I buy the plain noodles from the Asian aisle and add my own broth)
Beverages and Snacks:
- Crackers, pita chips, and pretzels
- Nut butters
- Shelf-stable sausage or pepperoni
- Jams and jellies – (including my homemade jams)
- Coffee
- Tea (including herbal)
- Shelf-stable milk – dairy or non-dairy (good for emergencies)
So that’s my pantry list for this winter. Because we all have different household needs, you will surely stock your pantry differently from mine, but I hope this list is a good starting point and gives you some ideas. Let me know in the comments how you stock your own pantry for winter. Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for more kitchen tips and recipes.
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