Stocking your kitchen is so important and makes preparing meals much easier. There are lists all over the internet and in cookbooks describing how you should stock your pantry. These are all helpful, but most importantly, you should stock it with items you love to use.
Your pantry is your dry storage, but you should also stock your cold storage in your refrigerator and freezer. All the items that you use often should be in your dry and cold storage areas. Having items on hand also makes it much simpler when following a new or more involved recipe. I love reading through a new recipe that I want to try and realize I have all or almost all of the ingredients already on hand. I also have a knack for substituting ingredients that I don’t have with something else. Having ample dry and cold items stocked in the kitchen makes this that much easier.
I do my big shopping once a week. Before I go to the grocery store, I always go through the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry to see what I need to stock up on and make an organized list. I look for the regular items I buy that I might need more of and I usually add some new things to my list from new recipes I want to make or have made. I also stock up on seasonal items as they come out. Being organized helps me get through the grocery store quick and efficiently.
Both my kids and my husband have joked around shopping with me. I like to go in, get focused, gather items from the list, and get out. I am definitely not a meanderer in the store. I often wish I had a horn on my shopping cart to beep so that when others who prefer to walk slower than me could kindly move over so I can pass. Maybe a fast lane and slow lane along with the horn would be helpful as well. I know this would be totally ridiculous, but I actually would do it if I could.
Being organized before going shopping and being fully stocked in your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer saves you a ton of time in the kitchen. It makes it more enjoyable and relaxing when you have everything you need at your fingertips.
