With the exception of my formative infant years, of course, my freshman year of college was the only time in my life that all of my daily meals were prepared for me by someone else. Since that time, I’ve always had a kitchen where I can make inventive late-night meals. I started with simple breakfast options and different mac and cheeses, like most Millennials, before progressing to intricate meat preparation and even homemade soups. For the simple reason that I’m afraid I won’t be able to follow instructions exactly, I haven’t tried baking or desserts yet.
It is incredibly satisfying to be able to prepare meals for oneself. Every time I successfully create something tasty for the first time, I feel proud of myself. I’ve always felt the most independent when cooking for myself or my friends, as strange as that may sound. As a writer, I don’t often have to perform physical labor, so in a way, cooking is the closest thing I can come to felling a tree and constructing a home.
I’ve learned some valuable lessons since leaving college and moving out on my own, and I’d like to share them with all of you. I want to talk in particular about the things you should always keep in your pantry and refrigerator in order to successfully adult. Even though some of the items you should always have may seem obvious, my justification for doing so may come in handy. Bonus — this list is useful for anyone who is on a budget like myself. My objective is to have you say: Oh we can totally make that right now.
Fridge.
Pro tip: It’s critical to maintain a tidy and organized refrigerator. Keep perishable items close to the front of the shelf so that you can easily reach them.
Items with approaching expiration dates should also be kept here.
By doing so, you’ll be sure to use it and won’t waste food that is still perfectly edible.
Dairy products such as milk or other.
Cheese, yogurt, and milk are the essentials of life. Using these things and purchasing more of them will become a habit. If you share a room with others, avoid keeping milk on the fridge door. The frequent opening and closing of the refrigerator door has caused my milk to spoil more quickly.
Eggs.
Breakfast, noon, or (STORY TURN) dinner. A superfood is an egg. Always store them higher than any heavy objects, and make sure to check the box for expiration dates and cracked shells before buying.
Both peanut butter and jelly.
Once they’re opened, you can keep them for a long time in the refrigerator, so buy a lot and save money.
Baked Soda.
When it comes to odorous foods, this will be your saving grace. The odors that occasionally seep into your cheeses and butters are absorbed by baking soda. Nobody desires cheese with a fishy odor. Convenient boxes are available from Arm and Hammer and should be changed every 30 days. (Because I’m currently broke and cheap, I tend to replace mine less frequently. ).
Sauces on top of sauces.
Keep a variety of sauces on hand at all times. Even poorly prepared food can benefit from a bottle’s supply of goodness. The long-lasting and effective condiments soy, teriyaki, salad dressing, ketchup, and mustard are especially useful for spicing up inexpensive meals.
Coffee.
You can keep this delicious for you by storing it in the refrigerator.
Bread.
By storing my bread in the refrigerator rather than on the counter, I’ve discovered that I can delay the onset of staleness for an additional two weeks.
Vegetables and fruits.
If you want them to last longer, think about buying whatever happens to be on sale that week and then moving it to the freezer. Yes, they’re pricey, but they’re a surefire way to avoid scurvy.
Butter.
Everything to me is… Even if you don’t like butter, you’ll always have some unforeseen baking emergency, and it keeps for a very long time.
Remaining food or prepared meals.
I advise pre-cooking all of your meals for the week if you share a refrigerator with others and have limited space. In this manner, you are able to plan your purchases and leave space for any perishables you haven’t used.
Quick Dough.
Pizza or biscuits. It will be quick and simple to access, regardless of your decision.
Freezer.
To keep your freezer functioning properly, you should defrost it occasionally. In order to prevent freezer burn on your items, remember to move items away from the back wall where it is the coldest.
Chicken/Fish/Meat.
Put any extra meat or fish that you don’t end up using into freezer-safe plastic bags. By doing so, you can put off your next shopping trip and save money.
meals that have been frozen.
It’s acceptable to not want to prepare meals on occasion. You may need to entertain your friends when they drop by. In either case, eating frozen meals is nothing to be ashamed of. You can stock up and store them in the freezer for a long time because stores frequently have good deals.
Iced snacks.
Keep ice cream in the freezer at all times because it is a gift.
Grapes.
If you want to avoid diluting your alcoholic beverages, add frozen grapes to them.
