Emilee Unterkoefler
Millions of people around the word are wiping out shelves in supermarkets and bringing home all the rice and beans. But, if you are going to be stuck indoors for a while, you might as well enjoy what you are eating, right?
If you plan on being quarantined, you might as well be prepared. So, before you stock your pantry (and other closet spaces) with plenty of non-perishables, we are here to remind you to keep the flavor of food in mind.
Condiments Galore
Condiments, such as barbeque sauce or honey mustard, simply spark joy for the tastebuds. If you are a dipping-sauce-kind-of-guy (or gal), then you know just what we are talking about.
What’s great is they last a while and can be stored in the pantry until opened. So, if you are writing up a list for a future emergency lockdown, don’t forget to include your favorites.
Here’s a list that might help:
- Ketchup
- Barbeque Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Ranch
- Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressing
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Relish
- Honey Mustard
- Soy Sauce
- Tamari Sauce
- Hot Sauce
Jarred Sauces
Jarred sauces are excellent for all the same reasons as condiments. They last for years stored on a shelf and provide so much flavor. They help create tasty sandwiches, belong on top of pasta, and bring casserole dishes together.
While we vote that homemade sauces always win over the hungry hearts, once you run low (or out) of ingredients to make them, it’s time to dig into your pantry stash.
Here’s a list of some of the tastiest sauces you won’t want to miss out on:
- Marinara Sauce
- Pizza Sauce (English muffin pizzas anyone?)
- Pesto
- Sundried Tomato Pesto
- Alfredo Sauce
- Vodka Sauce
Gravy and Sauce Packets
Do you know that aisle at the grocery store that’s filled with little square packets of powdered gravies and sauces? Grab a bunch of those. They are affordable, and also take up way less space in the pantry.
If you plan on eating mashed potatoes, you might as well accompany it with a packet of instant gravy. Powdered hollandaise sauce tastes excellent, and many diners use it for eggs benedict, so you’ve likely eaten it before.
Save a few bucks and grab an instant packet like pesto or parma rosa sauce.
Seasoning Mix
While you are picking out powdered sauces and gravies, be sure to grab a few choice seasoning mix packets, too. These are especially great for freezer meals and anything you plan to throw in the crockpot.
McCormick offers seasoning mix packets of tasty flavor for meals like:
- Chili
- Pot Roast
- Beef Stew
- Fiesta Chicken
- Beef Stroganoff
- BBQ Pulled Pork
- Meatloaf
Vinegar
Vinegar enhances flavor, preserves foods, and save a lot of meals from disaster. The potency vinegar offers can provide so much personality to foods and will add big flavor, too.
If you’re a big fan of this tasty liquid, then make sure you’ve got a bottle to keep the other jars in your pantry company. You’ve got so many options like white, red wine, and balsamic vinegar to choose from.
Butter
Although butter isn’t as healthy as other fats like coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil, it’s so damn tasty. Whether you use it for your toast, or to cook meat, the flavor it offers is incomparable.
So, if you plan on staying in for a while, don’t skimp out on the butter. It’s one of those everyday ingredients you won’t want to run out of. Buy a few pounds of butter and store them in your freezer to ensure you have enough to last you.
Worst comes to worst; you won’t have to buy for a while.
Water Enhancers
Yes, we’ve spent a lot of time on food, but let us not forget about good ole’ H20. If you’ve purchased gallons upon gallons, you may want to consider flavor enhancers.
If you have children in the home who love juice, you can save on space by purchasing water enhancers like Mio.
Otherwise, you can keep a gallon of water in your fridge and add instant lemonade or iced tea, rather than purchasing multiple bottles of juice.
