Freezer, Fridge, and Pantry Staples To Have Stocked During Quarantine (and after!)

I can’t help but laugh as I start to write this intro, because the photo above is most certainly NOT what grocery shopping looks like right now ?  Let’s just go with it though… I’m trying to be resourceful over here!!

ANYWAY! I’ve realized that, while it might not be the sexiest topic for my Instagram feed, you guys are super interested in resources to help you grocery shop and cook meals right now. It makes sense – we’re in a strange new world where we only stock up on groceries every 1 or 2 weeks. Before all of this happened, I’d go to the store multiple times a week, picking up specific things we’re in the mood for or ingredients I need for a recipe idea I want to test. Now, I’m planning out weekly meal plans and utilizing what we have on hand as much as I can. To be honest, I don’t entirely hate it. We are reducing food waste, getting creative, and saving a bunch of money. A few perks!

That being said, what if you don’t have a ton of stuff in your freezer or cabinets to utilize?! That’s where I hope this list can be helpful for you. Once you start accumulating these staples, your big trips to the store or your orders on Instacart or Amazon will become much less daunting. And you’ll be able to place them less often, too! (PS. I also linked a google spreadsheet in this week’s meal plan to help you keep track of what you have on hand!)

Freezer, Fridge, and Pantry Staples To Have Stocked During Quarantine (and after!)

This particular post only covers items with a long shelf life, but a post all about the fresh produce that lasts the longest is coming later this week, too. Between these two posts, I hope you find some inspiration in your kitchen these next few weeks/months!

Freezer Staples:

• Frozen Fruit: Berries, Mangos, Cherries (Great for smoothies, oatmeal, or chia pudding!)
• Frozen Veggies: Corn, Peas, Edamame, Spinach (Love having these on hand for stir frys, salads and risotto.)
• Proteins: Chicken, Ground Turkey and/or Sausages (They last longer if you put them in the freezer vs the fridge, unless you’re going to cook them right away.)
• Burgers: Regular, Turkey, Veggie, or Beyond Burgers (Great to have on hand for an easy dinner!)
• Seafood: Shrimp and Salmon
• Frozen Potstickers
• Bread (A loaf in the freezer will last way longer. Just pop in the toaster whenever you want to eat!)
• Cauliflower Pizzas (Our favorite is by Open Nature at Jewel/Safeway/Albertson’s!)
• Hashbrowns/Potatoes (Did anyone say brunch?!)
• Freezer Waffles (I like Vans – available at Foxtrot! Use code LAKESHORELADY for $5 off!)
• Frozen Brown Rice (I buy this at Whole Foods and it helps get dinner on the table faster!)
• Cauliflower Gnocchi and/or Cauliflower Rice
• Ice Cream (Hudsonville is our go-to for the real stuff, and Fronen is my favorite “healthy” ice cream!)

Refrigerator Staples:

• Butter
• Earth Balance (My favorite vegan butter!)
• Jelly
• Dijon Mustard (Sir Kensington’s is our favorite. Their spicy brown mustard is also delicious!)
• Tahini (Great for homemade salad dressings!)
• Hot Sauce (Siete makes our favorite ones! Their traditional and jalapeño ones are AMAZING.)
• Better Than Bouillon (Having this on hand makes cooking SO MUCH EASIER. An 8oz jar makes 38 servings of broth – plus it takes up so much less space than a bunch of cartons! Comes in chicken, vegetable, beef, and a few other flavors.)
• Parmesan Cheese (ALWAYS.)
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Hummus
• Salsa
• Soy Sauce
• Hoisin Sauce
• Sriracha Sauce
• Walnuts (If you keep them in the fridge, they’ll last longer!)
• Milk
• Non Dairy Milk (Oatly and Chiobani oat milk are my personal favorites… mostly because they both froth really well for my coffee!)
• Lemons
• Eggs
• Applesauce (Trader Joe’s makes the only one I love – no added sugar and DELICIOUS!)
• Ground Flaxseed
• Sparkling Water

Pantry Staples:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Tomato Sauce (There’s nothing wrong with buying a pre-made sauce, especially right now. Just look for no added sugar – it’s just not necessary in my opinion!)
• Crushed Tomatoes (I’m on a Mutti kick right now!)
• Black Beans
• Pinto Beans
• Garbanzo Beans
• Cannellini Beans
• Coconut Milk
• Peanut Butter and/or Almond Butter
• Brown Rice
• Quinoa
• Couscous
• Arborio Rice
• Regular Pasta (Barilla is our fave!)
• Chickpea Pasta (Banza or Barilla are our faves!)
• Brown Rice Pasta (Jovial Foods is the best, by far!)
• Mac & Cheese (Adam specifically requests Annie’s White Cheddar Shells.)
• Italian Style Breadcrumbs
• Panko Breadcrumbs
• Honey
• Maple Syrup
• Oats
• Chia Seeds
• Cereal

Oils/Vinegars:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Avocado Oil Spray (I like Chosen Foods from Thrive Market!)
• Coconut Oil
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• White Wine Vinegar

Baking/Seasoning:

• Baking Soda
• Baking Powder
• Flour
• Almond Flour
• Sugar
• Cornstarch
• Garlic Powder
• Cayenne Pepper
• Chili Powder
• Cumin
• Curry Powder
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Salt and Pepper

Snacks/Extras:

• Almonds
• Dates
• Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Blend (Another Thrive Market find – so good in coffee!)
• Safe & Fair Granola (The Blueberry Cinnamon and Birthday Cake flavors are our favorite! Use code lakeshore10 for 10% off their site!)
• Lil Bucks (This is my friend’s company! I love that these buckwheat seeds are crunchy without being super sweet like granola.)
• Cheese Crisps (Whisps and Trader Joe’s are both great as salad toppers instead of croutons!)
• Dried Mango
• Protein Powder (I like Terra Origin and JuicePlus+!)
• Maca Powder
• Collagen Peptides (I’ve been using Vital Proteins for years.)
• Pancake Mix (I like to keep Kodiak Cakes Cinnamon Oat mix around as a healthier option.)
• Chips and Crackers
• Garlic Bulbs
• Onions

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Did I miss any of you favorites?

Let me know below! Also, stay tuned for my post all about long lasting fresh produce!

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PS. You might also like my Weekly Meal Plans, Whole30 Chia Pudding, Chicken Taco Bowl, Free Workout Classes During Quarantine, and How To Stay Healthy and Cope with Coronavirus Anxiety.