A well-stocked cupboard is the difference between “there’s nothing in” and a proper dinner in twenty minutes. You don’t need a lot — just the right staples, kept topped up.
Grains and carbs
- Rice (long-grain or basmati), pasta in a couple of shapes, and dried noodles.
- Porridge oats, couscous, and plain flour.
Tins and jars
- Chopped tomatoes — probably the most useful tin there is.
- Chickpeas, kidney beans, butter beans or lentils.
- Coconut milk, sweetcorn, and tinned fish such as tuna, sardines or mackerel.
Flavour-makers
- Stock cubes or pots, soy sauce, tomato purée and a curry paste.
- A vinegar (cider or red wine), mustard, honey and a jar of pesto.
- Onions and garlic — not technically cupboard food, but you’ll use them in almost everything.
Oils and spices
- Olive oil for flavour, plus a neutral oil (sunflower or vegetable) for high heat.
- Cumin, smoked paprika, chilli flakes, dried oregano, curry powder and cinnamon. Our spice guide explains how to use each one.
Fridge and freezer backups
Eggs, butter, a hard cheese, natural yoghurt, frozen peas, frozen spinach and frozen berries. Frozen veg is picked and frozen quickly, so it’s just as useful as fresh and nothing goes to waste.
Five dinners from the cupboard
- Chickpea curry: onion, garlic, curry paste, chickpeas, chopped tomatoes and coconut milk, with rice.
- Tuna pasta: pasta, tinned tuna, sweetcorn, a spoon of mayonnaise or pesto and black pepper.
- Egg fried rice: leftover rice, frozen peas, eggs and soy sauce.
- Bean chilli: kidney beans, chopped tomatoes, onion, cumin and paprika.
- Shakshuka: eggs poached in spiced tomato sauce, with bread for dipping.
Keep it working
Put new tins at the back and older ones at the front so you use them in date order. Keep a running list on your phone and add things the moment they run low. Decant flour, rice and oats into airtight containers to keep them fresh.
Not sure what to make from what you’ve got? CulinaryFlow’s Cook Now shows the recipes you can make right now, ranked by how many of the ingredients you already have.