Everyday Cheapskate: Make Sure You Have These 9 Essential Pantry Items

Mary Hunt on Apr 2, 2024

3. CANNED TUNA

Always have a few cans of white albacore on hand. A good tuna sandwich is hard to beat, which makes it a great fallback. Mix with onions, pasta, canned tomato and some dried herbs to make a tuna casserole. Everybody should have one wickedly delicious tuna pasta bake recipe up their sleeve.

4. TOMATO SAUCE

Turn it into pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce. Add it to soup. Many quick and easy casseroles call for tomato sauce. If you have a few small cans as well as regular size, you won't waste a bunch when a recipe calls for just a small amount of tomato sauce.

5. FROZEN PEAS

My favorite thing to keep on hand; frozen peas fix anything. Add peas to any pasta dish, stew or salad and you're adding nutrition as well as visual appeal.

6. SHREDDED CHEESE

You'll save money if you buy bulk cheese and shred it yourself. But if you are not prone to do that ahead, buy it shredded. You'll recoup the cost the first time you opt to fix a quick meal of quesadillas. And you'll be good to go for a quick macaroni and cheese, too, and for pizza topping or to garnish chili.

7. FROZEN CHOPPED ONIONS

Yes, you can chop it yourself if you happen to have an onion on hand. And you don't have to buy them chopped. You can do this ahead and just keep a bag in the freezer. However you do it, having this on hand is such a great idea. You'll see.

8. BOUILLON

I think you need chicken, vegetable and beef. It comes granulated, cubed or as a very thick, concentrated base labeled "Better Than Bouillon," which you keep refrigerated. I prefer the latter, but any bouillon will get you out of a jam when you don't have chicken stock or beef broth on hand, or when a recipe calls for bouillon. Or you just want a nice hot cup of chicken broth. It's easy to use and simple to store.

9. CHICKEN BROTH

Keeping a few cans on hand is a smart idea. Again, you can make it yourself, but will you? Canned broth or stock is an ingredient you will appreciate having on hand for bases, sauces, gravies and soups.

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Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, "Ask Mary." This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book "Debt-Proof Living."