9 Pantry Essentials Grandma Always Had on Hand—and You Should Too

There’s always something to eat at grandma’s house. And whether she has a full-on root cellar like my friend’s nonna or just a magical pantry she can whip anything up from at any time, a grandma’s savvy pantry is nothing to scoff at. The original "ingredients household," if you will. As grocery trips become more unbearable in winter weather, plan like a granny, and stock up on nonperishable, typically low-cost staples that can sustain you through an unexpected blizzard, doomsday, or just a rot day for reality TV and tasty comfort food. Here are the basics you should have in your pantry at all times. 

Dried Beans

Dried beans take up very little space and are a great source of protein, fiber, and more nutrients. Though they take a while to cook on the stove or simmer in the oven, dried beans are always more flavorful (and economical) than a can of beans. Use them as a main dish, add them to a stew or soup, they're essential for a grain bowl, and excellent for bean dips. Additional legumes, like lentils, would be great to have on hand too, to whip up a quick soup, dal, and more. 

Oats

Oats are a necessity in every granny pantry. You can cook them every morning for breakfast, or batch-cook on the weekends to meal-prep for the week ahead. Of course, you can also make overnight oats or bake your oats into homemade granola. Savory oatmeals are also becoming more popular, should you want to top your oats with a runny egg and everything seasoning. And of course oats are great in oatmeal cookies, the topping for a fruit crisp, or muffins. Oats can also be ground in a food processor or blender to make a quick oat flour for baking or to use as a binder in dishes like meatballs or salmon patties.  

All-Purpose Flour

It’s called all-purpose for a reason! And while specialty flours may help perfect your sourdough loaf, in a pinch, you can rely on all-purpose flour for anything and everything. Want to bake sandwich bread? Make dumplings for soup? Pancakes? Waffles? Pasta? Roux for mac and cheese? AP flour is always a good idea. For maximum efficiency, don't keep it in the paper bag you bought it in; transfer the flour to a glass jar or other sealed container for peak freshness. 

Rice

You need rice on hand at all times. Be it long-grain rice, short-grain rice, or brown rice, stocking at least one type of rice is Grandma 101. Of course, rice can be cooked in the traditional ways, but it can also be added to soups and stews, to make dishes like paella or risotto, plus fried rice, crispy rice, or crunchy rice salad. And don’t forget homemade rice pudding for a sweet treat. 

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Soy Sauce 

Find a practical pantry that isn’t stocked with soy sauce. We’ll wait. Soy sauce adds an extra boost of savory and salty flavor to everything, from stocks and sauces to stir-fries and beyond—you never want to be without it. 

Noodles

Grandmas from all over the world are at the ready with noodles whenever their loved ones need comfort. Whether it’s egg noodles to serve with goulash or stroganoff (or good old butter!), or turn into tuna noodle casserole, or dried noodles to add to soups, pastina for a sore throat, or even instant ramen to curb cravings, keeping a solid stock of noodles is essential for any good granny pantry. 

Evaporated Milk 

Shelf-stable milk is somehow always in stock at grandma’s. Cans of evaporated milk are handy to have on hand for baking or for cooking in a fresh milk emergency. While watering it down for your morning cereal isn’t advised, evaporated milk can be stirred into creamy dishes like mashed potatoes, sauces, and soups. It's essential for our go-to macaroni and cheese, and it can be used in baking custard-based pies, like pumpkin, or in warm drinks, like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

Cornmeal 

Cornmeal is a staple in so many cuisines, and useful for making family meal staples like cornbread or corn muffins, or for crunchy coatings on fried chicken or fish. Cornmeal can also be used to make grits or polenta. And of course, masa, which is nixtamalized cornmeal, is a staple in Latina grandmas’ pantries to make corn tortillas, tamales, and more. 

Canned Vegetables 

Canned vegetables may seem retro to some, but they’re a grandma staple for a reason—they’re often less expensive than fresh produce, last for years, and are reliable to have on hand. Younger generations may veer towards chickpeas or canned tomatoes, which is fine, but consider purchasing a can of corn, lima beans, green beans, peas, or artichokes to have a few extra vegetables available at all times. And if you want to get really grandma about it, consider canning your own veg!