While you do have to keep certain pantry staples stocked, you don't have to constantly eat the same things all the time.

We polled the Freebs in our Shelf Cooking Community and they gave us their favorite pantry staples they always keep on hand. Check out our pantry staples post to see what they said! Are you ready to see if your favorites made the list? Let's do it! The Freebs we polled were so helpful to us in writing this post!

So, thank you!!! It was really fun reading through all of your favorite pantry staples and the ways you use them. While we got a TON of responses, there were two items that really stood out from the rest. Can you guess what they were?

If you guessed rice and pasta, then you were spot on! A grand total of Freebs voted these as their top pantry staples. Crazy, huh? Read on to learn what their favorite uses are. Rice is one of those pantry staples that pretty much goes with anything!

It's a great way to stretch a meal, especially if you have some ravenous teenagers or toddlers! in the house. Pro Tip: Use a rice cooker or Instant Pot to cook your rice quicker if it needs to be cooked before going into a recipe. Oh pasta, you are our love language!

We think it's safe to say that you're the love language of many Freebs, too! This pantry staple is another one that will go with just about anything and it's cheap and easy to keep on hand. Pro Tip: When you're cooking pasta, don't use oil in your water for boiling.

A lot of Freebs keep canned pasta sauce on hand as it pairs naturally with pasta. It's a pantry staple that is pretty cheap to stock up on and can go in lots of different things!

Pro Tip: Pasta sauce is basically canned tomato sauce and some seasonings, so stock up on tomato sauce and you can easily make your own pasta sauce in a pinch!

Rice and whole grains — like quinoa, farro, barley, wheat berries, or bulgur — can be cooked in bulk and used throughout the week in salads and soups, Younkin says. Rice and whole grains stored in airtight containers will last for up to 6 months in a cool, dry pantry or the freezer for up to a year.

However, ground whole grains will deteriorate faster and can be stored in the pantry for 1 to 3 months or up to 6 months in the freezer. Root Vegetables and Hardy Vegetables. In addition to frozen options, many root and hardy vegetables have a long shelf life and will provide your family with much-needed sustenance.

Good choices include potatoes of all varieties, whole carrots baby carrots do not have the same shelf life , winter squash , heads of cabbage , celery , and brussels sprouts.

Store potatoes and other root vegetables in a cool, dry, dark spot with good ventilation. Keep carrots with the green tops removed, celery wrapped in foil, and brussels sprouts on their stems in an open plastic bag in the fridge for two weeks.

Stocks and Broths. Stock and broths are available in cans, cartons, or space-saving bouillon pastes and cubes. They make an easy base for a variety of soups , stews , and risottos or as a flavor booster for sauces.

Look for low-sodium versions since you can adjust the salt and other flavorings to your taste. Canned or Jarred Fish. Since you may not have access to fresh meat and chicken, look for alternative proteins like canned fish.

Canned tuna and canned salmon make a delicious and nutritious addition to salads or croquettes. A tin of sardines packs a flavorful punch as an appetizer on crackers or as an ingredient in pasta sauces or rice dishes.

In addition, canned fish is a great source of zinc, which boosts your immunity and can be an excellent addition to a heart-healthy diet. Canned Vegetables.

Corn and peas are always great canned vegetables to have on hand, but canned tomatoes are the hero of your pantry, no matter what the circumstance.

Buy a variety of tomatoes: diced, crushed, and whole. They are often more flavorful and tender than fresh tomatoes, even in season, and are the start of everything from soups to sauces.

Canned Soup. It is a great idea to have some canned soups on hand for quick and easy meals. Condensed soups will save pantry room, but ready-to-eat soups mean you don't have to add water you might want to keep for another purpose.

A jar of pasta sauce is merely a pot of cooked pasta or rice away from a meal but is also a perfectly seasoned base for other recipes. For example, add chicken stock and chopped vegetables to make minestrone, cook rice in the sauce for a rich tomato side dish or use it as a topper for baked potatoes.

Dried pasta is one of the best things you can keep on hand since it is shelf-stable, comes in various shapes and sizes, and has a version for every diet. In addition, pasta works well with all sorts of flavors, so you can use it in everything from classic Italian to Pan-Asian cuisines.

Once cooked, it can be served hot or cold, as an ingredient in a larger dish, or as the star of the show. Crackers, Crispbreads, Rice Cakes. These pantry staples are essential snacking material. Keep them in airtight containers, so they don't go stale.

Cooking Oil and Condiments. Its a necessity to have condiments such as mayonnaise, mustard, relish, vinegar, hot sauce, and soy sauce in your pantry. Be sure to read the labels to see which sauces can be stored in the pantry after opening and which should go into the fridge.

Tip : Learn how to make your own salad dressing to save money and space. Salt, Pepper, Spices. Figure out what you use most of the time and keep it on hand.

Garlic and Onions. Be sure to buy some aromatics like onions , garlic , ginger , and chili peppers to help amp up the flavor — all will last a long time in your fridge or a cool spot in your home. Need containers for pantry storage?

A NOTE ABOUT THE PRICES LISTED: We used first quarter pricing from Amazon Fresh. Egg noodles are great because they are super cheap and can be used with just sauce or with meats or in a variety of different casseroles or dishes.

Many people recommend storing pasta sauces for your pantry list. With canned tomatoes, you can use them for soups, chili, pasta sauces, other sauces, casseroles, pizza and more. If you can your diet allows , start with basic rice and then add in more expensive items like quinoa. UP NEXT: How To Save Money On Groceries Without Clipping Coupons!

I know this is going to sound like a broken record, but dried beans are also an important as frugal pantry staples for the same reasons as rice and pasta: price, long-term shelf stable, great fillers for recipes, and they make us feel full.

Many pantry lists recommend you store broth like the kind you get in a carton. Getting some fresh-tasting, healthy food pantry items is important.

TIP: Always choose pantry items that have multiple purposes.

DRIED HERBS | SPICES CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON VINEGAR

Discounted food pantry essentials - PASTA DRIED HERBS | SPICES CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON VINEGAR

But in emergency cases, whether it be illness, storms, or just hard times, a full cupboard can help keep your family well-fed and safe in the event you need to spend a few weeks inside your doors.

First and foremost, it's important to distinguish between panic shopping and being prepared. Yes, you should have enough food and supplies including medications to last two weeks in case of quarantine.

But, no, you do not need to be hoarding toilet paper and other essentials. Here are their recommendations, plus a few of our own. What you buy is just as important as how much you buy. So while it can be tempting to load your pantry full of guilty pleasure treats, try to focus on foods with a high nutritional value.

A healthier you means a healthier immune system. Cereal, popcorn, rolled oats and other whole grains are important too. Be prepared, not panicked," says Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN.

Dried or Canned Beans. Beans and legumes are shelf-stable and packed with protein and fiber, which keep you full. Fill your cart with canned beans like black beans, chickpeas, and kidney beans, which you can use to make a bean salad, chili, or vegetable quesadillas.

After an overnight soak, dried beans make a great base for pureed dips, soups, and stews. Store dried beans in airtight containers in a cool, dry pantry for up to a year.

For centuries, cultures have relied on the magical combination of rice and beans to provide an inexpensive way to keep bellies full with complete protein and dietary fiber. Rice and whole grains — like quinoa, farro, barley, wheat berries, or bulgur — can be cooked in bulk and used throughout the week in salads and soups, Younkin says.

Rice and whole grains stored in airtight containers will last for up to 6 months in a cool, dry pantry or the freezer for up to a year. However, ground whole grains will deteriorate faster and can be stored in the pantry for 1 to 3 months or up to 6 months in the freezer.

Root Vegetables and Hardy Vegetables. In addition to frozen options, many root and hardy vegetables have a long shelf life and will provide your family with much-needed sustenance. Good choices include potatoes of all varieties, whole carrots baby carrots do not have the same shelf life , winter squash , heads of cabbage , celery , and brussels sprouts.

Store potatoes and other root vegetables in a cool, dry, dark spot with good ventilation. Keep carrots with the green tops removed, celery wrapped in foil, and brussels sprouts on their stems in an open plastic bag in the fridge for two weeks. Stocks and Broths. Stock and broths are available in cans, cartons, or space-saving bouillon pastes and cubes.

They make an easy base for a variety of soups , stews , and risottos or as a flavor booster for sauces. Look for low-sodium versions since you can adjust the salt and other flavorings to your taste. Canned or Jarred Fish. Since you may not have access to fresh meat and chicken, look for alternative proteins like canned fish.

Canned tuna and canned salmon make a delicious and nutritious addition to salads or croquettes. A tin of sardines packs a flavorful punch as an appetizer on crackers or as an ingredient in pasta sauces or rice dishes.

In addition, canned fish is a great source of zinc, which boosts your immunity and can be an excellent addition to a heart-healthy diet. Canned Vegetables. Corn and peas are always great canned vegetables to have on hand, but canned tomatoes are the hero of your pantry, no matter what the circumstance.

Buy a variety of tomatoes: diced, crushed, and whole. They are often more flavorful and tender than fresh tomatoes, even in season, and are the start of everything from soups to sauces. Canned Soup. It is a great idea to have some canned soups on hand for quick and easy meals. Condensed soups will save pantry room, but ready-to-eat soups mean you don't have to add water you might want to keep for another purpose.

And because you can buy a bag of mixed vegetables, there are so many ways to add veggies to your meal. You can add frozen spinach to quiche, mixed vegetables to fried rice, and corn to tortilla soup.

Or you can heat up your favorite veggies and eat them as a side dish. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising.

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Need containers for pantry storage? A NOTE ABOUT THE PRICES LISTED: We used first quarter pricing from Amazon Fresh. Egg noodles are great because they are super cheap and can be used with just sauce or with meats or in a variety of different casseroles or dishes.

Many people recommend storing pasta sauces for your pantry list. With canned tomatoes, you can use them for soups, chili, pasta sauces, other sauces, casseroles, pizza and more. If you can your diet allows , start with basic rice and then add in more expensive items like quinoa.

UP NEXT: How To Save Money On Groceries Without Clipping Coupons! I know this is going to sound like a broken record, but dried beans are also an important as frugal pantry staples for the same reasons as rice and pasta: price, long-term shelf stable, great fillers for recipes, and they make us feel full.

Many pantry lists recommend you store broth like the kind you get in a carton. Getting some fresh-tasting, healthy food pantry items is important. TIP: Always choose pantry items that have multiple purposes.

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