While a good shopping list is the key to a quick and painless trip to the supermarket, a well-stocked pantry is the best way to ensure you’ll have everything you need to cook once you get home.

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Oils, Vinegars 

Oils: extra-virgin olive, canola

Vinegars: balsamic, red-wine, white-wine, rice, cider

Condiments

Asian condiments: reduced-sodium soy sauce, fish sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, chile-garlic sauce, toasted sesame oil

Sauces

Barbecue sauce, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce

The Basics

Mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise 

Flavorings

Salt: kosher, iodized table

Black peppercorns

Herbs and spices, assorted dried

Onions, fresh garlic, fresh ginger

Olives

Kalamata, green

Capers, anchovies or anchovy paste

Citrus

Lemons, limes, oranges

Dry Goods

Pasta, whole-wheat (assorted shapes); Barley: pearl, quick-cooking; Bulgur; Couscous, whole-wheat; Quinoa; Rice: brown, instant brown, wild; Dried beans and lentils

All-purpose

Flour: whole-wheat, whole-wheat pastry (store opened packages in the refrigerator or freezer), all-purpose

Rolled oats

Cornmeal

Breadcrumbs: plain dry, coarse whole-wheat

Crackers

Whole wheat, sesame, garlic and herb

Chocolate

Unsweetened cocoa powder

Bittersweet chocolate

Sweeteners

Granulated sugar, brown sugar, honey, pure maple syrup

Nuts, Seeds & Fruits

Nuts: walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pine nuts, natural peanut butter

Seeds: pepitas, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds

Dried fruits: apricots, prunes, cherries, cranberries, dates, figs, raisins

Canned and Bottled Goods

Broth: reduced-sodium beef, chicken and/or vegetable (or see page 78 for broth recipes)

Clam juice

"Lite" coconut milk

Tomatoes, tomato paste

Beans: black, cannellini, kidney, pinto, great northern, chickpeas, lentils

Chunk light tuna, Wild Pacific salmon

Wine

Red, white or non-alcoholic

Madeira

Sherry, dry

Refrigerator Items

Milk, low-fat or nonfat

Buttermilk or buttermilk powder

Yogurt, plain and/or vanilla, low-fat or nonfat

Sour cream, reduced-fat or nonfat

Eggs (large) or egg substitute, such as Egg Beaters

Tofu, water-packed

Cheeses

Parmesan cheese, good-quality

Cheddar cheese, sharp