QUICK ANSWER
Keep salt (used in 1522 of 1,676 recipes), black pepper (1272) and extra virgin olive oil (1044) on hand. Next come Dijon mustard, honey, coconut oil, garlic powder, ground cumin, soy sauce and crushed red pepper. For shelf-stable foods, stock broth, rice, canned tomatoes and canned beans.
How we ranked the pantry.
Our recipes mark some ingredients as pantry items: things the recipe expects you already have, with no amount to buy. We counted how many recipes call for each one, using the standard version of every recipe. A second group lists canned and dry goods that recipes do buy in measured amounts, such as broth and rice, but that keep for months.
The number next to each item is how many of the 1,676 recipes use it. Spices near the bottom of the list are worth buying when a recipe asks, not before.
Pantry staples list, by aisle.
Sorted by section; the number is recipes using it.
Pantry staples list
Fridge basics
- Butter (unsalted)171
Oils & vinegars
- Extra virgin olive oil1044
- Virgin coconut oil251
- Toasted sesame oil169
- Rice vinegar118
- Balsamic vinegar105
- Red wine vinegar99
- Apple cider vinegar84
- White wine vinegar63
Salt, pepper, spices & dried herbs
- Salt1522
- Black pepper1272
- Garlic powder231
- Cumin (ground)228
- Crushed red pepper209
- Chili powder173
- Italian seasoning142
- Paprika137
- Oregano (dried)136
- Onion powder94
- Cayenne pepper78
- Curry powder78
- Thyme (dried)74
- Cinnamon (ground)73
- Coriander (ground)68
- Turmeric (ground)60
Sauces & condiments
- Dijon mustard271
- Soy sauce221
- Mayonnaise176
- Chili-garlic sauce108
- Fish sauce57
- Worcestershire sauce52
- Natural peanut butter41
- Ketchup31
Sweeteners
- Honey257
- Brown sugar141
- Pure maple syrup129
Baking & dry goods
- Panko bread crumbs84
- Sesame seeds78
- Cornstarch71
- All-purpose flour67
Canned & dry goods recipes buy
- Chicken or vegetable broth350
- Basmati rice100
- Diced tomatoes87
- Kalamata olives (pitted)81
- Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)75
- Jasmine rice73
- Tomato sauce64
- Black beans57
- Walnuts53
- Quinoa52
- Cannellini (white kidney) beans49
- Capers48
- Coconut milk45
- Almonds (sliced)36
getmealpot.com/pantry-staples-list/ · Let MealPot write this list for you from your week’s recipes.
Common questions.
What are the most important pantry staples?
By recipe count: salt, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, dijon mustard, honey, virgin coconut oil, garlic powder, cumin (ground). Those eight cover most of the seasoning in our recipe library.
What spices should every kitchen have?
Beyond salt and black pepper: garlic powder, cumin (ground), crushed red pepper, chili powder, italian seasoning, paprika, oregano (dried). These are the most-used dried spices in our recipes.
What canned goods should I keep in the pantry?
Broth, diced tomatoes, chickpeas, black beans, coconut milk and tomato sauce are the canned goods our recipes buy most. Rice, quinoa and pasta are the dry ones.
How long do pantry staples last?
Dried spices lose flavour over time, so buy small jars of the ones you rarely use. Oils last longest sealed and away from heat and light. Check the best-by date on each package.
Does MealPot know what is in my pantry?
MealPot’s grocery list lets you tick off the pantry staples you already have before you shop. Free to download; full meal plans need MealPot Pro.
MealPot writes this list from your week’s recipes.
Pick the week’s meals on iPhone or iPad and MealPot turns them into one grocery list, grouped by aisle. Free to download; full meal plans need MealPot Pro.
Sources
- MealPot recipe library: 1,676 recipes, standard version of each, counted on 27 October 2026.