42 Items you need to Stock For a Prepared Home

ByMissy

Whether you live far away from a grocery store or not, it can be beneficial to stock your home with certain staples. A major benefit of having a larger stock of items is in the event you can’t make it to the store. This might be because you or a family member is sick, there’s inclement weather or you just don’t have time to go to a store every week. 

Since my husband and I have been married, we’ve experienced all three situations of not being able to go to a store and have greatly benefitted from having a well stocked home.

In this resource, I’m going to name quite a few items. This list includes many items I purchase and use regularly. However, this is what suits me and my family. If any of these items are not used by you or your family, I encourage you NOT to stock said item(s). Stocking your home with items that will never get used can be a waste of money and resources. 

With that being said, I highly encourage you to take inventory of your household items on a relatively regular basis. This will help you determine what is being used and what is getting left behind. 

What to Stock for the kitchen

Produce to Stock In The Pantry

1. Dried fruits

  • These are perfect for a quick snack or to add into a baked good. I typically buy dried mango and make dried kiwi (tastes like sour candy !!), dried strawberries, and apples. 

2. Dried vegetables

  • Peas, carrots, onions and mushrooms are my staples for adding into soups. Shredded & dried potatoes are great for potato pancakes or hashbrowns for breakfast.

3. Canned goods (home or from the store)

  • My staples include tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, peaches, applesauce, strawberry jam, chicken, ground beef. Don’t be afraid to try a few new items to find new items your family might enjoy!
Grains To Stock In The Pantry

4. Flour (or grain berries if you make your own flour)

  • Flour has almost endless possibilities in a kitchen. From bread products to deserts to a sauce or soup thickener, flour is an amazing ingredient to keep on hand. 

5. Pasta

  • Pasta is an essential tool for extending your meal to have more servings or to be more enjoyable by children (and adults). Any size and shape of pasta your family eats or will eat is best. I’ve found a mix between shapes and spaghetti has been best for my family.

6. Rice

  • Rice is also an excellent tool for stretching each meal. So many flavors can be added to rice to really amplify or complement the meal.

7. Baking mixes

  • Whether homemade or store bought, it’s nice to keep a few on hand to make a quick and easy meal.
Sweeteners to Stock In The Pantry

8. Honey

  • I love the floral flavor of honey. I also enjoy supporting local beekeepers so it’s a win-win! 

9. Maple syrup

  • Not only can maple syrup be used for making breakfast delicious, it can be used to sweeten anything from beverages to baked goods.

10. Sugar

  • If you bake in any capacity, this is an essential basic ingredient since almost all baking calls for some amount of sugar. Also, I’ve never had sugar “go bad” on me so this is a perfect item for almost anyone to keep on hand.

11. Molasses

  • While some recipes use molasses as a direct ingredient, I recommend keeping small molasses jars on hand to make your own brown sugar. 
Beverages To Stock In The Pantry

12. Juices

  • A wonderful addition to smoothies or a change-up from drinking plain water. My trick to make it last longer is to add a bit of water to the juice! I also enjoy that it’s less sweet this way.

13. Electrolyte packets

  • These come in really handy in the heat of summer or when someone is sick and needs their minerals replaced.
Miscellaneous Items To Stock In The Pantry

14. Popcorn kernels

  • This makes an easy snack that is enjoyed by many. It’s also healthier without all the unnecessary ingredients that microwave popcorn has.

15. Soy sauce or coconut aminos

  • An essential flavor to Asian dishes! I always keep this on hand so we can make fried rice or stir fry.

16. Vinegars

  • From cleaning to culinary, this is a jack of all trades that you should always stock in your home. By stocking your pantry with plain white or apple cider vinegar, you can make almost infinite infusions to use in your home and pantry.

17. Oil (tallow, lard, coconut oil, butter)

  • Whether cooking or baking, oil is used in almost everything. Keeping a little extra oil for cooking will serve you well when you need it most.

18. Ready to eat/dehydrated soups

  • These are exceptionally great in the winter time when the holiday season is busy or when you or a family member are sick. A simple meal that is nutrient packed is great to keep on hand.

19. Sauces

  • Some sauces I stock include pasta sauce, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, ranch, ketchup, & mustard. All are extremely versatile and can be used to prepare numerous dishes. 

20. Salt

  • No matter what you are making, salt can instantly elevate your meal. In desperate times, it can be used to make foods more palatable. If you ferment or can, you will be using a lot of salt.

21. Spices / seasoning mixes

  • Along with salt, any spices or seasoning mixes your family uses on a regular basis can make or break a meal. Want to make some of your own seasoning mixes? Find Seasoning Mixes Every Kitchen Should Have HERE

22. Bone broth or meat stock

  • Aside from making soups, bone broth or meat stock add a lot of protein and nutrition to your meals. Use it to cook rice or noodles to add extra nutrients. For a lower cost option, stock your home with homemade broth. learn how to make your own HERE. 
In the refrigerator/freezer

23. Meat

  • Ever since buying meat in bulk, I have never wanted to purchase the majority of our meat in any other way. I love not having to pick up meat at the grocery store. Plus, I get to know who raised these animals and can make sure they lived a good life.

24. Eggs (or chickens 😉)

  • I’ve been told chickens are the gateway drug to animals on a property. I wholeheartedly believe that! I also believe eggs are one of the most versatile ingredients my kitchen has. From breakfast to baking to dinner, eggs are definitely used in some form every week in our home. 

25. Frozen fruits

  • From smoothies to deserts, frozen fruit can be utilized in numerous ways. 

26. Frozen veggies

  • Keep frozen veggies in stock at home to easily add some greens to lunches and dinners. They keep much longer and need little preparation before serving.

What to stock for the home

For every day use

27. Water filters

  • Clean water is an extremely important part of surviving and thriving. Stock your home with water filters and you will have clean water when you need it most.

28. Hand and dish Soap

  • Washing dishes and washing hands are typically something people do every day, multiple times a day. Soap can also be used to clean many other surfaces and items so it is another essential multi-use tool the home.

29. Towels

  • While paper towels are useful in specific applications, most people use paper towels for things that a regular cotton towel can be used for. To ensure you have enough towels to use between washings, I suggest having a few more towels than regularly regularly need. 

30. Laundry soap

  • There’s nothing like going to wash the clothes you need for the next day and discovering that there isn’t any laundry detergent left. Making sure you have enough laundry detergent is one of my staples!

31. Dishwasher tablets / detergent

  • In any phase of life, I greatly appreciate not running out of dishwasher detergent just like I appreciate not running out of laundry detergent.

32. Loofah sponges

  • Loofah sponges are excellent because of their versatility and ability to compost! Although I have yet to try it for myself, I’ve heard they’re pretty easy to grow.

33. All purpose cleaner concentrate

  • Having a cleaning concentrate on hand is essential! Not only will it save you money but you will save space in your cleaning cabinet. I have had the same concentrate bottle for 3 years and it’s still going strong. 
Paper Products

34. Toilet paper

  • In 2020, I think almost everyone realized how much they appreciated having toilet paper on hand. Another household good you will just appreciate not running out of when you need it most! 

35. Paper Towel

  • Although my family hardly ever uses it, there are just a few things it’s nice to have a roll or two of paper towel on hand. 
For emergency situations

36. Water

  • While water filters are essential, having some stored in jars or jugs is great when you need it immediately. 

37. Animal food

  • If you have any pets, it may be worthwhile to ensure they also have food in the event you are not able to run to the store. 

38. Flash lights

  • Whether you use them when the power goes out or to find something in a back corner cabinet, it’s always handy to keep at least one readily available. 

39. Batteries

  • Although there are very few items that use batteries, it’s definitely nice to replace a remote or fire alarm battery right when you need it. 

40. Extra Candles

  • These are so nice for a soothing bath, dinner time in the winter or for when the power goes out. Beeswax candles are my favorite because they last FOREVER in my house. Plus, I love making them. Want to learn how to make your own beeswax candles? see HERE

41. Medicines

  • Whether you use over the counter types of medicine or herbal/homeopathic medicine, it’s good to keep a good amount of the medicines you use on hand in the case of emergency or just when you really need it. 

42. First aid items

  • Along with physical medicine, general first aid items (band aids, gauze, medical tape, scissors, gloves, tweezers, alcohol wipes, etc.) are essential items to stock in your home for emergencies and everyday.

The Most Important Tip in Stocking Your Home

You don’t have to buy everything at once. In fact, I recommend not buying a large amount of goods at once. If you buy a lot of food at one time, it’s all going to go bad around the same time.  Also, it can cost a lot to purchase everything at the same time. Instead, wait until the items you use go on sale and buy one or two extra when the price is lower. 

Another way to slowly build your stock is the “one for now, one for later” method. With this, choose only a few staples from our regular shopping list to buy. When you go to buy your items, buy two of the same thing instead of one. The second item will be the “one for later”. This method to build your stock at home is great no matter where you shop.

If you like the idea of buying items in bulk but don’t want to pay to be a member at a big box store or don’t like the options available in the stores near you, I recommend looking into Azure Standard. Azure Standard is a family owned online retailer of many items. Their range of available items ranges from food/ health and beauty to household and garden items.

Do you stock or want to stock any of these same items? Let me know in the comments below or tag @MissysHomestead on Instagram 

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