Essential Non-Perishable Food Items To Have In Your Kitchen Pantry

Prepare your pantry for unpredictable emergencies with long-lasting filling foods. Stash away these non-perishable food items which have lengthy expiration dates and won’t go bad after a long period of time and are highly nutritious, keeping you functioning at your best.

Canned Fish

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Canned fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, and many others are packed with high protein content and rich omega-3 fatty acids. Stocking up on canned fish with save you more money than purchasing fresh fish and will last over 2 years at room temperature, without refrigeration. Moreso, canned fish is lightweight and compact making it easy to store away in your pantry. This food item can act as a full meal on its own as it is now being sold as a complete meal right without can with interesting flavors like Thai chili, jalapeno, lemon pepper and garlic and herb. 

Oil

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Adding a touch of oil in your cooking process can take your dish to the next level. Sauteing, braising, roasting and searing, all depend on oil as the foundation to achieve scrumptious textures and tones of your food. Liven up even the most boring meals by creating delicious dressings and sauces for simple oils in the pantry. Thankfully, oils have a long shelf life and have no need for refrigeration. Extra virgin olive oil and vegetable oil are great options as they are the most adaptable and flexible to the majority of dishes and most importantly have a shelf life upwards of 3 years. 

Dried Legumes 

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Legumes ranging from every bean and pea are a staple in kitchens across the world because they are cheap, filling and healthy. Buying dried legumes is more cost-effective over the canned counterparts which typically is loaded with sodium and other preservatives. For beans and some peas like chickpeas, the key step is to soak them overnight to yield a properly cooked meal. Dried legumes can last over 3 years or even longer once you store them in when stored in a cool, dry place. 

Dried Pasta

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Store-bought pasta is notorious amongst parents for the quick and easy meals that picky eaters love.  Whip up a macaroni pie, lasagna, pasta salad, soups or plain ole boiled pasta with cheese and bon appetit! Pick up different pasta shapes like elbows, penne, bowties, shells, spaghetti or rotini for a hearty meal you can make in minutes. If you are not feeling too fancy, simply saute your cooked pasta with olive oil, salt, pepper and a vegetable or meat of your choice and ta-da! A fast delicious meal that is sure to please your tastebuds. 

Whole Grains 

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Whole grains like oats, rice, cornmeal, quinoa and popcorn come in handy with their longer shelf life when compared to other standard carb sources like bread which can get mold after only a week. In the Caribbean and more than half of the world’s population, rice is considered the global grain as it is integral to making cuisine. Eats these grains for different meals in the day, for instance, oatmeal for breakfast, rice for lunch and popcorn as a light evening snack.  

Powdered Milk

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In situations where you may not have access to fresh dairy products, powdered milk can be your best friend. This dairy product is created by evaporating milk to a dried state and be rehydrated with the simple addition of warm water. This food item comes invaluable for recipes asking for milk in recipes such as drinks, desserts and baked goods and can give a boost in calcium when encountering limited food options.