Here’s everything you need to make sure that your pantry (and fridge) is fully stocked. Plus, we gave you the shelf life of all these must-have items.
10 Obvious Must-Haves:
1. Flour – can store up to a year in your pantry.
2. Baking Powder – store up to 18 months in your pantry.
3. Baking Soda – keep in your pantry for up to 2 years.
4. Salt – store forever in your pantry. (pro tip: store sea salt too!)
5. Ground Pepper – lasts 3-4 years in the pantry.
6. White Sugar – can last up to 2 years in your pantry.
7. Olive Oil – will last a year unopened and up to 4 months opened.
8. Vegetable Oil – store in your pantry 2 years unopened and 1 year opened.
9. Cornstarch – lasts forever when stored in the pantry.
10. Brown Sugar – will last forever in the pantry, but is best within 2 years.
10 Spices You Need on Hand:
1. Allspice – store in your pantry for 3-4 years.
2. Garlic Powder – keep in the pantry for 3-4 years.
3. Onion Powder – will last 3-4 years in your pantry.
4. Oregano – store in your pantry for 1-3 years.
5. Paprika – lasts for 2-3 years in the pantry.
6. Basil – store in your pantry for 2-3 years.
7. Cinnamon – will keep in the pantry for 3-4 years.
8. Dill Weed – store in the pantry for 1-3 years.
9. Ginger – keep in the pantry 3-4 years.
10. Chili Powder – store in your pantry for 3-4 years.
10 Canned/Jarred Goods Your Pantry Needs:
1. Canned Black Beans – lasts in your pantry for 2 years.
2. Canned Refried Beans – keeps for 2 years in the pantry.
3. Canned Chopped Tomatoes – store a year in your pantry.
4. Tomato Sauce – store up to a year in the pantry.
5. Tomato Paste – lasts in your pantry for up to a year.
6. Jelly – unopened, jelly lasts 6-9 months past the “best by” date, opened it lasts about 1 year in the fridge.
7. Peanut Butter – smooth and crunchy lasts for up to 1 year past the “best by” date.
8. Cream of Chicken Soup – will last 2-5 years in the pantry.
9. Tomato Pasta Sauce – unopened, pasta sauce lasts for one year past the printed date, or 10 days after opening in the fridge.
10. Maple Syrup – lasts up to 2 years unopened in the fridge and up to a year opened in the fridge.
15 Other Things You Need:
1. Chicken & Vegetable Broth – store in your pantry unopened for a year, or open in the fridge for up to 5 days.
2. Soy Sauce – store forever in your pantry, or up to 3 years in your fridge.
3. White Vinegar – store indefinitely in your pantry.
4. Honey – keep in your pantry forever.
5. Salsa – unopened can last 12-18 months in the pantry, or 1 month opened in the fridge.
6. Coconut Oil – lasts for up to 2 years in the pantry.
7. Worcestershire Sauce – store for up to 3 years in the pantry.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar – store forever in the pantry.
9. Pasta – keep in your pantry for up to a year.
10. Ramen Noodles – store in your pantry for up to 10 years after the expiration date.
11. Brown Rice – store 3-6 months in the pantry.
12. White Rice – will last forever in your pantry!
13. Cooking Spray – keeps for up to 2 years in the pantry.
14. Coconut Milk – store in the pantry for up to a year.
15. Powdered Sugar – will last for up to 18 months in the pantry.
10 Refrigerator Must-Haves:
1. Hot Sauce – store in your fridge for up to 5 years.
2. Ketchup – store up to 6 months (opened) in your fridge.
3. Mustard – keep a year unopened in your pantry or up to 8 months opened in your fridge.
4. Mayonnaise – lasts unopened a year in the pantry, or up to 3 months in the fridge.
5. Milk (duh) – store in your fridge for about one week after the “sell-by” date.
6. Yeast – keep in your fridge for up to a year.
7. Butter – lasts for 1 month in the fridge past printed date and up to 9 months in the freezer.
8. Orange Juice – unopened orange juice will last 1-2 weeks past its expiration date, opened orange juice about 2-3 days past expiration date.
9. Lemons & Limes – lasts 1-2 months in the fridge.
10. Eggs – lasts 3 weeks after purchase when stored in the fridge.