Pantry staples list: the printable checklist you can save as a PDF
A category-by-category pantry staples list you can copy into any document and save as a printable PDF in minutes, plus how long each staple keeps.
Print or download the pantry staples list
Use the clean print layout below, or download the free letter-size PDF and high-resolution PNG. No email address is required.
Primary references: USDA FSIS shelf-stable food guidance and USDA guidance on checking food before you toss it.
Free to print, post, and share with attribution to wellstockd.com.
A solid pantry staples list runs about 47 items across eight categories: grains, canned goods, oils, baking basics, spices, condiments, proteins, and snacks. Grab the free printable PDF at the top of this page, or copy the checklist below into any document and edit it down to your own version.
Most of the printable lists floating around online are built for someone else's kitchen. This one is meant to be a starting point you edit yourself: cross off what you never use, star what you always run out of, and print your own version.
What belongs on a basic pantry staples list?
A pantry staples list should cover the ingredients that make almost any weeknight dinner possible, not just what happens to be on sale this week. Most home cooks and food bloggers land on the same eight buckets, even when the exact brands differ.
Here is a category-by-category starting list you can copy straight into a document:
| Category | Staple items |
|---|---|
| Grains and pasta | White rice, brown rice, rolled oats, quinoa, spaghetti, short pasta, tortillas |
| Canned and jarred goods | Diced tomatoes, tomato paste, black beans, chickpeas, tuna, chicken broth, coconut milk |
| Oils and vinegars | Olive oil, neutral oil, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar |
| Baking basics | All-purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch |
| Spices and seasonings | Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, chili powder, dried oregano, bay leaf |
| Condiments and sauces | Soy sauce, mustard, hot sauce, mayonnaise, ketchup, honey |
| Shelf-stable proteins | Peanut butter, canned salmon, dried lentils, mixed nuts |
| Snacks and extras | Crackers, popcorn kernels, dried fruit, coffee or tea |
That's 47 items, which comfortably fits one printed page. Leave a blank row or two at the bottom for the things specific to your household, like a favorite curry paste or gluten-free flour, before you print.
How do you turn this list into a printable PDF?
You don't have to make one. The free letter-size PDF and PNG of this checklist are in the download box at the top of the page, no email required, so you can print it as is.
If you want a version trimmed to your own kitchen, any device with a browser can produce one in a few steps.
- Copy the table above into a blank Google Doc, Word document, or notes app.
- Reformat it as a simple checklist by putting empty brackets or a bullet in front of each item, so there's something to mark off in the store.
- Trim it down to what your household cooks with. If you never trim it, you'll stop using it.
- Open the print dialog with Ctrl+P or Cmd+P and choose Save as PDF or Microsoft Print to PDF instead of picking a physical printer.
- Save the file somewhere you'll find it again, whether that's your phone's files app, a shared family folder, or a paper copy taped inside a cabinet door.
Most word processors also let you export a checklist template straight to PDF from the File menu, which skips the print dialog step entirely.
How long do pantry staples keep?
A printable list is only useful if the items on it are still good when you reach for them. Shelf-stable pantry food generally lasts far longer than the date on the package suggests, as long as it's stored in a cool, dry spot away from the stove or a damp basement.
| Staple | Typical shelf life (unopened, best quality) |
|---|---|
| Canned vegetables, beans, soup | 2 to 5 years |
| Canned tomatoes and high-acid canned fruit | 12 to 18 months |
| White rice | Up to 2 years |
| Dried pasta | Up to 2 years unopened, about 1 year once opened |
| All-purpose flour | About 1 year in the pantry |
| Cooking oil | 1 to 2 years |
| Ground spices | 1 to 3 years |
| Whole dried herbs | 2 to 3 years |
These are best-quality windows, not safety cutoffs. According to the USDA, a canned good that's stored properly and free of rust, dents, or swelling is typically safe to eat well past these windows. The timeframe is about flavor and texture holding up, not the food turning dangerous overnight.
How do you keep the printable list accurate after you print it?
Any printable pantry staples PDF is a snapshot. The day after you print it, you'll use up the peanut butter, restock the rice, and the paper version stops matching your shelves. A checklist works well for the initial trip that stocks a pantry from scratch, but it can't tell you what you're already low on next month.
That ongoing tracking is really a different job, and it's worth separating the two. Our guide to how to keep a kitchen inventory walks through the systems side of this, including when a paper list is enough and when it's worth switching to something that updates itself. If your shelves specifically are the bottleneck, keeping track of pantry inventory covers the rotation habits that keep a printed list from going stale. The fridge has its own version of the same problem, covered in how to keep track of food in your fridge.
If you print the staples list above and want it to stay useful past the first shopping trip, an app like Well Stockd can pick up where the paper leaves off. You log what's on your shelves once, and it tracks what you're running low on and flags what's close to expiring, instead of you reprinting a checklist every few weeks. We compared several options in the best pantry inventory apps if you want to see how a checklist stacks up against an app.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one printable pantry staples PDF that works for every household? Not really. The category structure of grains, canned goods, oils, spices, and so on is fairly universal, but the actual items depend on how your household cooks. A family that eats a lot of curry needs coconut milk and garam masala on the list; a household that bakes weekly needs more flour and yeast than a generic printable list includes. Start from a general list and cut or add items after your first shopping trip.
How many items should a basic pantry staples list have? Somewhere between 30 and 50 items keeps the list on one printed page and easy to scan against your shelves. Longer lists tend to get skipped over at the store because they're overwhelming to read while you're shopping.
Do I need to reprint the list every time I shop? Only if you check items off with a pen. Laminating the sheet and using a dry-erase marker, or keeping the checklist as an editable file on your phone, lets you reuse the same printable pantry staples list for months.
Sources: Shelf-Stable Food Safety, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Before You Toss Food, Wait. Check It Out!, USDA