This is whole topic worthy of an extended rant. It depends on what you like to eat basically. Mine has (among other less used items) :
2 minutes noodles and other pastas
tinned fish
Couscous
tins of crushed tomato
tins of corn (small)
bricks of stock in various flavours and sizes
Rice(s) various
cider vinegar
spices & sauces like soy, sweet chilli sauce, hoisin
Flour/cornflour
Tea
Sugar
Spreads like jam, vegemite, peanut butter
In the fridge:
potatoes
carrots
apples
lemons
onions
garlic & ginger
bottle of mayo
Uht milks
Butter
Cheese(s)
These plus fresh green vegetables allow me to cook up a fast cheap meal in a variety of cuisines. If stocking a pantry, I’d keep shopping receipts for a month, and see what you’ve actually used and base purchasing decisions on that. Food that just sits in the pantry and isn’t used is the most expensive of all.
EDIT: I forgot eggs & olive oil (or whatever oil you like to cook with)
I use vegetable oil for more unhealthy things, like stuff that needs to be fried or deep fried and olive oil for things that just need a drizzle. Vegetable oil isn’t the best, but it’s not the worst and it’s generally quite cheap for massive bottles of it.
Only thing I’d add to your list is some noodles. Personally I despise 2 minute/ramen noodles because a lot of days that was breakfast lunch and dinner for me for weeks on end (same reason I hate spag Bol), but you can buy it super cheaply and you can make it in a lot more ways than just boiling a kettle and letting it sit for 2 minutes. Also good if you get sick and need something easy, cheap, and not too hard to digest (just forgo the spice).
Edit: noodles were the first thing on your list… FML.
It’s dark and cool in there. I don’t have another space that’s suitable as all my cupboards are full of stuff. I used to have a proper root cellar, but lost that when I sold my EBrunswick house.
This is whole topic worthy of an extended rant. It depends on what you like to eat basically. Mine has (among other less used items) :
These plus fresh green vegetables allow me to cook up a fast cheap meal in a variety of cuisines. If stocking a pantry, I’d keep shopping receipts for a month, and see what you’ve actually used and base purchasing decisions on that. Food that just sits in the pantry and isn’t used is the most expensive of all.
EDIT: I forgot eggs & olive oil (or whatever oil you like to cook with)
I use vegetable oil for more unhealthy things, like stuff that needs to be fried or deep fried and olive oil for things that just need a drizzle. Vegetable oil isn’t the best, but it’s not the worst and it’s generally quite cheap for massive bottles of it.
Only thing I’d add to your list is some noodles. Personally I despise 2 minute/ramen noodles because a lot of days that was breakfast lunch and dinner for me for weeks on end (same reason I hate spag Bol), but you can buy it super cheaply and you can make it in a lot more ways than just boiling a kettle and letting it sit for 2 minutes. Also good if you get sick and need something easy, cheap, and not too hard to digest (just forgo the spice).
Edit: noodles were the first thing on your list… FML.
You refrigerate onions & potatos? This seems rather odd to me.
It’s dark and cool in there. I don’t have another space that’s suitable as all my cupboards are full of stuff. I used to have a proper root cellar, but lost that when I sold my EBrunswick house.