A Prepared Family Pantry
There are many different reasons for why a family may be wanting to take stock of their resources and do some work to make sure they have at least somewhat of a stockpile of products they use regularly.
I have compiled a list of items we have in our family pantry, and in this post, I want to share those ideas with you.
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A Prepared Family Pantry
Over the years, our family has always kept a few extras on hand. With little ones, this has made my life easier – no last minute trips to the grocery store because we’re out of something. There is always a bit of extra on hand that is quickly replaced by another extra.
Some may argue that this approach does not make sense with my attempt to be some version of a minimalist, but keeping extra necessities on hand helps me avoid stress and overspending – so for me, I would say it perfectly aligns with a more simplified lifestyle. This will look different for everyone, but this has always felt most comfortable to us.
Over the last couple of years, we have found ourselves having additional reasons for feeling like it would be wise to add to those extras we’ve always kept on hand, creating more of a stockpile than we’ve kept in the past.
We have a pantry closet in our kitchen and then my husband added shelving to our under-the-stairs closet that was originally intended to be used as a coat closet or some other type of storage. As we have minimized our belongings, spaces like this have become less needed, and we have been able to use them in ways that work better for us – like for more food storage for our growing family.
We work hard to make sure the items we are storing are:
- things we will use anyway – even if our concerns do not become a reality
- items we can donate to our church food pantry (before expiration)
- resources we can share with others who may need them along the way
Limitations to Consider:
- If you’re limited on space, avoid filling your space with specialty items or sweets and treats. Focus on staple items/necessities.
- If you’re limited on funds, simply add a few items to each future grocery order. Especially when it comes to canned goods, this can mean as little as an additional $1.50 – $5.00 per order – stores like Aldi are great for purchasing canned goods.
A Prepared Family Pantry Checklist
Canned Goods
Remember, only purchase items you use regularly in the recipes your family loves – for us, Rotel is a must!
- canned vegetables
- canned fruit
- canned beans
- canned tomatoes/Rotel
- broths/soups
Next up, jarred items that can be stored for several months – just like those canned goods! What jarred salsas or sauces does your family use?
- pasta sauce
- pizza sauce
- various other forms of tomatoes/tomato sauces
- salsa
Next up, what about dry goods?
- dried fruit
- coffee / tea
- cereal
- oats
- granola
- crackers
- nuts
- pasta
- rice
- dried beans
- dried soups
- bullion cubes
What about items your family might use for baking – in addition to keeping your typical baking staples on hand: flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, yeast, etc.
- pancake mix
- waffle mix
- muffin mix
- cornbread mix
- maple syrup
- chocolate chips
- canned pumpkin
- boxed pudding mixes
- brownie mix (Just trying to have a little fun here.)
Next up, are there any packaged meats your family would benefit from having on hand?
- tuna
- pepperoni
- jerky
Now what about oils and spices?
- cooking oils
- seasonings/spices
- vinegars
- extracts
- dried garlic
- dried onion
Condiments are also smart to consider:
- ketchup
- mustard
- mayo
- salad dressings
What other items might your family benefit from keeping on hand?
Consider what your family eats regularly and the kinds of things you consistently use when cooking at home.
For example, my kids love peanut butter and also eat loads of these applesauce pouches!
These keep for quite some time, so they are a great option when it comes to thinking through which items are smart to keep on hand.
My goal with this post is not to overwhelm you with ideas but to give you a realistic glimpse into what a prepared family pantry looks like and invite you to consider your own family’s needs and what might be smart to consider storing for the months ahead.
A Prepared Freezer Space
We do have a freezer space that holds additional meat as well as frozen fruits and vegetables. Our freezer space is somewhat limited, so these are the three things we focus on keeping stocked there.
- meat
- fruit
- vegetables
We use a lot of diced onion, so you’ll find several bags of these in our freezer.
Other Prepared Family Items to Consider:
- bottled water
- alternative sources of light and power
- batteries
- alternative cooking options – Do you have a grill? A firepit? A smoker?
- foods with a longer shelf life – like these from Augason Farms
- propane/firewood
- disposable cooking pans
- paper goods – toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates/bowls/cups, plastic utensils, etc.
- soaps/detergents
- foil, plastic wrap, Ziploc bags, etc.
- health and beauty items
- feminine products
- formula/baby food
- diapers and wipes
- first-aid supplies
- supplements/medication
- emergency supplies
Want a little help making your Pantry Checklist?
I’ve prepped some printables for you that might be helpful!
Have you thought of something we should add to this list here? Let me know! I would love to continuing adding to it so it can continue to be a helpful resource for others who are working to set up A Prepared Family Pantry.
Thank you so much for your pantry list! We are a family of 3 and I started a family pantry as well. Looking at your list gives me more ideas to stockpile more stuff things that I didn’t thought about. Thank you Elizabeth! I love your family and the way you are organized. 🥰🥰🥰
Thank you so much for your reading – you have encouraged me today!
We’ve been low-key stockpiling thus last year too. We have a lot of these items stored away, but I got some ideas from your list!
Let me know if you think of anything else to add! I’m hoping to continue adding to this list!
Great list! Dish soap, laundry soap, dishwasher soap etc. I found castile soap to be most useful, as you can make hand soap, shampoo, laundry soap and more with it. Same goes with baking soda and vinegar. All came in handy in the hoarding/scarcity of 2020.
Don’t forget beauty products. Have you ever bought a product, loved it and went to get another only to find it discontinued? Now when I buy something I like, I go back and buy several so that I have that same product for a long time.
Feminine hygiene products, diapers, wipes, baby needs…
•Canned chicken
•Salt
•Water in Larger plastic containers.
•72 hour kits for each individual in case you have to evacuate your houses quickly.
Thanks for sharing this. I’m in Australia and have been doing the same – these are great ideas.
I’m so glad to connect with you, Teresa! WE ARE PRAYING FOR AUSTRALIA!
Hi! Would you be willing to share some recipe ideas based on using canned and dry foods? Thanks!
Dog or Cat Food 🐶🐱
Question: what temperature should your storage be for these items??
We have most of our items inside our home, but we have lots of friends who use cool basement storage for these items!
That helps me add to my stock list. Some of those items are good for me. Again thank you for your time.
Don’t forget to put an expiration date on your food items so you can rotate and use your food items easier.
Thanks for your list. This is a great idea. One thing to keep an eye on: items with fat such as nuts, oils, and whole grains need to be stored carefully to avoid spoilage. I keep my extra nuts and whole wheat in the freezer.