Stocking a Pantry You Will Actually Use

A tight, well-chosen pantry means dinner is always thirty minutes away. Here is our shortlist.

By Kenji Baker

A cluttered pantry is not a well-stocked one. We keep a tight list of workhorses and restock ruthlessly.

The non-negotiables

Good oil, a couple of vinegars, tinned tomatoes, tinned beans, a few spices and a hard cheese.

Rotate

Buy what you use, use what you buy. A spice past its prime is just dust.

Written in the Stewart & Musell test kitchen.