Storecupboard Essentials

rchddap1

I was in a similar position at one point. Lots of space and nothing to put in it. Before we moved in I kept my eyes out of interesting meal ideas, and the components needed. Anything that would last a while (ie, tinned or packaged) I bought I put to one side. As time has gone by I have expanded my meals and slowly my cupboards have filled.

So I agree with the comments above. Don't leap on everything in order to fill cupboard space, but do things slowly. That way you don't buy things you will never use....and you get to work out which OS meal ideas you like and will keep.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Erm - sack of onions, sack of spuds, sack of carrots, five garlic bulbs. Four tins of baked beans, 4 of tinned tomates, tom puree.

Bag of chicken bits/whole chooks chopped into bits. Low fat mince. Both in freezer. White fish (pollock/coley) and salmon. Tinned tuna in Spring water.

Sweetcorn, green beans, peas. In freezer.

Bottle of olive oil/one of rapeseed oil.

Big bag of pasta.

lump of parmesan/other cheese, garted and frozen (you'll use less)

Bag of plain flour, strong plain flour, cornflour, self raising flour, dried yeast

Salt pepper

Butter, cut into 1oz pieces and frozen.

Rice.

Sugar.

Vanilla.

Milk.

Bread.

Eggs.

Gravy granules.


That should keep you fed for ages. Add to it as you see fit - curry spices/yoghurt/fruit/other veg/fish

Penelope_Penguin

reetyre wrote: »

I would be very grateful for ideas of a shopping list to fill fridge, freezer and cupboards

Hello :beer: We have an existing thread on just this subject, so I'll merge your question so that you can browse lots of suggestions

Penny. x

**MissL2**

Everyone here seems so organised so I'm hoping someone can help. I know this sounds daft but I don't think I know how to shop. I have got much better in the past year-my shopping bills have halved and I've reduced wastage but I still feel I could be more organised and reduce my food bills more. From reading threads on this forum it looks as though the store cupboard is a key factor in making healthy and cheap meals so I'm looking to expand and improve mine. Any feedback would be great.

So in mine is...

Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Dried herbs, spices and curry powder
Rice, pasta and noodles
Stock cubes (assorted) and gravy
Tins: Baked beans, Chopped toms, Kidney Beans ,Sweetcorn,soup
A few beans and pulses
Cornflour
a couple of jars of ready made cooking sauces

Is there anything I'm missing?

Lxx

Penelope_Penguin

**MissL2** wrote: »

From reading threads on this forum it looks as though the store cupboard is a key factor in making healthy and cheap meals.

Either that or the lentil

Mine's here Sorry about that - my computer threw a wobbly and crashed We have an existing thread on storecupboard contents, so I'll merge this thread with that one

Penny. x

afterglow_2

well ive got herbs (dried, mixed grinders, mixed herbs), spices( and dried chillies, mushrooms, seaweed, garlic flakes etc), sauces, pickles, baking ingredients (flours, sugars, yeast, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, decorations for cakes), rices, pastas, noodles, beans, tomatoes, sardines, tuna, mackerel, tinned fruits, and part baked bread and pizza bases(really useful!!) and various other bits,

good idea is to buy one or two extra storecupboard items and luxury occasional items every week! maybe some oriental sauces, dessert mixes, spices anything unusual that will liven up a meal, or give you more cope to cook and enjoy it more!
i have whole cupboard full of stuff like this always useful for great cheap home cooked meals!!

**MissL2**

Pizza bases sound great never thought of them- they would come in very handy in our house.

Good tip about building items up definitely going to start in the new year. Iwant a baking cupboard! Ilovebaking but burn everything so a cupboard full of stuff might encourage me to start practising!!

naturally_2

Oooh I love this thread!

my (when full) storecuboard:

Dry goods

Dried Spaghetti, penne & lasagne sheets
Herbs and spices - too many to mention (not sure how I got like this...) including stock cubes
TVP
Lentils
Split peas
Broth mix
Rice
Plain cous cous

Tinned/Cartons
Cartons of passatta
Tomatoes
Baked beans
Tinned red kidney beans

Fruit & veg

Onions
Potatoes
Seasonal (and cheap) veg

fridge

Milk
Butter
Cheese
Pesto

Condiments

Tomato Ketchup
Low fat mayonaise
Wholegrain mustard

Freezer

Frozen peas
Various HM frozen meals
Whoopsied meat

jesdan

Hi

Been trying to start doing meal lists and shopping for essentials but have now found that

a) I have fussy kids who sulk that "I don't like that" and although I have tried to get them involved in working out the meals it still isn't working
b) We always seem to end up with the same meals (probably no imagination)
c) Because I only want to buy what we need I've not been "proper" shopping for ages so am spending a fortune at the local shop and by cupboards are now bare!

I'm avidly reading through the posts but find (and no critisism here at all) that you are all well read, up to speed with all these tips and ideas.

That said I'd like to start 2 threads - this one for store cupboard basics which I should be stocking up on and the other one for meal ideas, including what to take to work/school as really am getting sick of ham sandwiches now which is here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1354547

Hopefully this will not only help me but any other new or struggling MSE OSers!

Thanks for all your suggestions! :beer:

Pink.

Hi jesdan,

There's an earlier thread on storecupboard essentials that should help so I've added your post to it to keep the suggestions together.

This thread may be useful too:

OS store cupboard basics

Pink