Series: A Capsule Kitchen: Inventory List



If you are looking to simplify and streamline your kitchen routine, you may find this inventory list helpful. It has served our household well for several years, and has helped to keep costs down, even as grocery prices fluctuate.
 
A Capsule Kitchen: Inventory List

Starches and Grains
Barley 
Oatmeal
Pasta (whole wheat)
Rice (brown and white)

Beans and Legumes: I use dried, rather than canned. Making the switch from canned to dried has been a game-changer. They are super cheap, and you can cook as many or as few as you need. 
Black beans
Garbanzo beans
Pinto beans
Red beans
Split peas
Split red lentils
Whole brown lentils

Seeds
Chia seeds
Sesame seeds

Condiments and Spreads
Mustard
Peanut butter
Preserves
Soy sauce

Oils
Olive oil
Toasted sesame oil
Vegetable oil

Baking 
Baking powder
Baking soda
Cornmeal
Flour (whole wheat and all-purpose)
White Sugar

Spices
Cinnamon
Chili powder
Curry powder
Garlic salt
Nutmeg 
Nutritional yeast 
Onion powder
Pepper
Salt 
Vanilla (imitation/baker’s)

Drinks
Apple juice (frozen)
Coffee
Cranberry juice
Tea (black, chai, green, rooibos)

Refrigerated
Unsweetened, plain almond milk (I don’t always have this on hand, but we use it semi-regularly) 
Applesauce
Tofu (extra firm)
Vegan margarine

Frozen: I use frozen produce almost exclusively for recipes.
Blueberries
Broccoli
Carrots
Cauliflower
Corn
Green beans
Kale
Peas

Fresh Produce
Apples
Avocados
Baby carrots
Bananas
Potatoes

That’s it!

All the recipes I make use a combination of the above items listed. I rarely purchase a specific ingredient for something (the exception being canned pumpkin in the fall and winter, because pumpkin, or the occasional can of tomato sauce), and tend to favor recipes with minimal ingredients, overall. 

One of the benefits of a capsule kitchen, is that you come to know what you have and what you need because you are using the same few items regularly. While there are inherent limitations to this way of eating, most of the dinners I make are templates, rather than strict recipes, which allows for freedom to change things up, depending on what is on hand.

Feel free to use this as a basis for trying your own capsule kitchen, omitting some things, and swapping in other items you prefer, or have the means to purchase.

Happy stocking (and saving)! 

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