Here's a list of canned ingredients to always keep stocked up in your pantry to make sure you've always got some basics on hand. Trying to figure out what to cook for dinner each night is less daunting when you know your pantry is stocked with all the ingredients for a quick and easy meal.
There are many advantages of canned food, and if you are trying to save your money, it's important to take all the savings there are. Check out some more of the great savings ideas we have.
Long lasting items to have in your pantry
Tomatoes and pasta sauce
Definitely one of the most reached-for of all the canned goods! There's no protein or vege dish that can't take a little acidic hit from our friends the canned tomatoes. Plus, they last much longer than fresh ones so you can experience that tomato-y goodness all year round.
Canned chickpeas, black beans, cannellini, lentils and kidney beans
Canned beans are affordable, convenient, and don't spoil easily. They can provide the essential nutrients that are comparable to their fresh or frozen counterparts.
Lentils are low in fat, extremely nutrient-dense, and affordable to buy. Here are 5 reasons why a can of lentils are great to have stocked up in your pantry:
1. They're high in protein
2. They're a good source of folic acid
3. Full of fibre
4. Great source of iron
5. They're high in magnesium
Recipes to try
Canned fish
Canned fish is so versatile! It's economical, convenient, tasty and comes packed in a variety of sizes. There are numerous fish varieties to choose from, with tuna and salmon most readily available. Having canned fish stocked in your pantry, allows you to have a quick and easy lunch on hand that can be a good source of calcium.
Canned vegetables
We know that everyone loves fresh vegetables but there is a time and place for canned veggies. It's an easy way to add more vegetables into your diet and can be a real dinner saver when fresh versions might be too expensive or out of season.
Here are some of our favourite canned veggies:
Rice
It is always good to have foods in your pantry that have a long shelf life. It is important to store rice in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. White, jasmine, wild, basmati, and arborio rice are low in oil which means they have an indefinite shelf life. However, brown rice is higher in oil so it will spoil faster than its white counterparts.
Oats
Filling and nutritious, oats are a fantastic staple to keep in stock at home. These make an easy breakfast, or can be used in cakes, cookies and desserts.
