General Question

xxii's avatar

What are some cooking ingredient staples?

Asked by xxii (3329points) May 20th, 2010

My friends and I just moved into our new apartment and we’re about to embark on the adventure of cooking for ourselves every day. We’re making a grocery list of ingredients to buy and I could use some suggestions.

So far, we have: herbs, breadcrumbs, spinach, potatoes, onions, garlic, shallots, carrots, olive oil, soy sauce, cheese.

What are some ingredients that are widely used in a lot of recipes? I’m looking for generic, simple ingredients, nothing specialised or fancy. Thanks!

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21 Answers

hannahsugs's avatar

Garlic, butter, flour, pasta, vinegar (various sorts), canned tomatoes, broccoli (frozen ok), bread, vegetable oil, lemons, milk, and I’m sure there’s more that I’ll think of later!

cookieman's avatar

Olive Oil
Vegetable Oil
Real Butter
Flour
Sugar
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Cooking Sheri
Sea Salt
Black Pepper
Cinnamon Sticks
Brown Sugar

mrentropy's avatar

Salt, pepper, and flour. Eggs, depending on what level of vegetarian you are.

hannahsugs's avatar

Also! Rice is great to have around, as are beans (canned black beans are my preference, and garbanzo beans are good on salad).
i told you i’d think of more later

cookieman's avatar

Soup Stock
Pasta Sauce
Ketchup
Crushed Tomatoes
Barbecue Sauce
Salad Dressings

jaytkay's avatar

Some non-perishables:
Dry beans (I like to keep both red and white)
Canned tomatoes, the big double-sized cans.
Rice
Long pasta (spaghetti/linguine/capellini)
Short pasta (penne/farfalle/shells)
Stock, (learn to make chicken and/or vegetable stock and freeze it. It’s A LOT cheaper)

Spices:
Tabasco, cumin, curry, oregano, chili powder

Lube:
Butter, olive oil, canola (or some other “plain” oil)

Acid:
Vinegar
Lemons

If you have a garden:
Dill, basil, cilantro, chives

Congrats on the new apartment! Throw some dinner parties, it forces you to kick up your cooking skills several notches. HAVE FUN!

jazmina88's avatar

fresh salads
frozen fruit

panko crumbs
chicken stock

WestRiverrat's avatar

almonds or walnuts
flour
sugar
poultry seasoning
seasoned salt
seasoned pepper
apples, oranges or your favorite fruits
worchestershire sauce
Picante sauce
mustard
ketchup
prepared horseradish
Mayonnaise
pickles
rice
dry beans
barley or oatmeal
Yeast

ChocolateReigns's avatar

Think about what you like to have a lot. It should get you thinking.

eden2eve's avatar

nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans)
popcorn
crackers
cold cuts
chicken
olives
cream cheese
chives
tuna

aprilsimnel's avatar

Quinoa
Tomatoes in a can (crushed, diced, paste, sauce)
Nut butters of choice (peanut, soybean, etc.)
Tea
Chiles/roasted peppers, etc.
Cornmeal
Hot cereal (oatmeal, grits, Cream of Wheat)
Honey
Mustard
Lemon juice
Salsa
Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Cooking wine
Red wine vinegar
Balsamic vinegar
Pasta
Brown rice
Canned tuna/salmon/chicken
Salt/pepper
Flour
Beans

RedPowerLady's avatar

Tempeh is simple to make and very healthy (and tasty). (btw how do you spell that?)

Couldn’t think of much else that hasn’t already been covered.

PandoraBoxx's avatar

Cumin
Basil
Oregano
Cinnamon
Thyme
Garlic Powder (not salt)
Chili Powder
Seasoned Salt, like Morton’s Nature Seasoning
Soy Sauce
Baking Powder
Baking Soda

Big Lots is a good source for inexpensive spices, olive oil, etc. Spices are $1 a bottle and are really fresh.

RedPowerLady's avatar

Oh greek seasoning is really good for veggies and something I had never had before.

WestRiverrat's avatar

Don’t get large bottles of spices that will sit in your kitchen and go stale before you can use them. Smaller is better, they will be fresher and better tasting.

Merriment's avatar

I make lots of stir fry dishes and couldn’t live without corn starch to thicken sauces.

Neizvestnaya's avatar

Get a grinder for loose peppercorns.

Curry powder

Sriracha sauce (Rooster sauce)

Rotel- canned tomato & chilies you can puree finer for salsa or leave whole for a marinade. Look for store adds offering them under $ a can.

Rice a Roni wild rice- look for 10 for $10. sales. You can cook it with or without the savory packet, serve it cold or hot and mix all kinds of stuff into it to create salads, side dishes and casseroles.

Canned tuna or chicken- they can be made into spreads, salads, stuffings and casseroles. Stores offer multi can purchases at good prices now and then, even for the solid pack white albacore tuna.

Bags of frozen tri color sliced bell peppers- instant yum for omelets, adding to rice & pasta, casseroles, chili beans, stir frys.

Italian sausages- I freeze them individually then defrost as needed for serving them sauteed, sliced, uncased and crumbled into scrambles, uncased and mixed with beef for meatballs or stirred into red sauce for lasagne, uncased and made into patties for breakfast sandwiches. I can usually make 1 sausage enough for two portions and I wait until the stores offer them on sale.

mrentropy's avatar

Peanut butter, jelly, thyme.

Rv654321's avatar

Spices:
Kosher salt
Pepper w/grinder
Cumin
Crushed chilli peppers
All in 1 seasonings are good and more cost effective then buying individual spices..ex: Italian Seasoning, Steak Seasoning, OldBay for any seafood =P

Herbs:
Rosemary
Basil
Dill
Cilantro
Bay Leaves
Thyme

Condiments;
Ketchup
Mustard
Mayo
Salad dressing
P.B. & jelly
Worcestershire sauce
Favorite Hot Sauce

Produce:
Tomatos
Bell Peppers
Brocolli
Lettuce or Salad Mixes
Lemons
Fruits
Oranges

Basics:
Flour
Corn Starch
Baking Soda/Powder
Sugar
Vinegar
Balsamic Vinegar
Wine to cook: one that you like to drink! not that nasty cooking wines they hav at store..lol
Stocks: good for gravys, sauces, or soups
Pastas
Rice
Beans & tortilas..im Mexican so these are staples @ my house! haha
Ice Cream & Sorbets fro a quick dessert

hannahsugs's avatar

@mrentropy: do you eat all three of those together? .....on a sandwich?

does that actually sound plausibly yummy to anyone else?

mrentropy's avatar

@hannahsugs : I’m surprised you were the only person to even mention it.

But this explains it all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww_baUSB2YQ

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