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All About...1. What things should be included in a pantry? We are all about pantries. Some items listed below will be used on a fairly regular basis, others rarely, still others seldom. Remember, these are only suggestions. Depending upon your culinary preferences, you should try to have enough of the right ingredients on hand that are RIGHT FOR YOU so that you can feed yourself (well) without having to run out to the store or, gasp, opt for "fast food" whenever hunger calls. So here you are: * Baking & Spices baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, yeast, flour, salt, pepper, peppercorns, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, brown sugar, light corn syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground, cloves, ginger, basil, oregano, chili powder, dry mustard, paprika, thyme, tarragon, dill, bay leaves, poultry seasoning, beef, chicken, vegetable bouillion cubes, cream of tartar, unseasoned bread crumbs, Bisquick, pancake mix, powdered milk, unsweetened cocoa powder, unsweetened baking chocolate, chocolate chips * General & Condiments rice, pastas, dried onion soup mix, tomato paste, tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, peanut butter, jelly, canned tuna, raisins, cereals, chocolate syrup, stocks canned soups canned beans olives, canned fruits, applesauce, vegetable oil olive oil red wine vinegar white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, vegetable shortening, nonstick cooking spray, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustards-dijon, grainy, yellow soy sauce, hot sauce, Worchestershire sauce, barbecue sauce salsa honey maple syrup white wine, red wine-good quality, salad dressings * Freezer orange juice concentrate, corn, green beans, spinach, peas, mixed vegetables, ground beef/turkey/chicken, chicken breasts, shrimp, dinner rolls, ice cream/sherbet, pie crusts, nuts Whew...we hope this helps. 2. Purging Your Pantry-How to know what to save and what to pitch when cleaning your urban pantry. Are you confused by the terms "Use By", "Best By", or "Sell By"? Yeah, us too. Did you know that hot sauces like Tabasco sauce are good for up to FIVE years at room temperature once they've been opened? That's longer than some marriages last. Here are some guidelines on those 'best by,' 'sell by' and 'use by' codings "Best By" generally indicates a product's period of peak flavor and quality. It is not a purchase or safety date. "Sell By" indicates how long a retailer should offer the product. How long a food is good after that date varies by the product. Milk, for example, usually is good for another five to seven days. Foods with "Expiration" or "Use By" dates should not be consumed after those dates. Here are some common pantry staples and how long they can be stored: Canned and jarred foods Unopened canned foods keep for two years, according to the Food Products Association. Jarred foods often have "best by" dates. Once opened, both products can be refrigerated for three to four days. Products containing meat should be consumed within two days. Never use a product from a can that is leaking, rusted, badly dented or bulging. Never store food in an opened can. Chocolate Chocolate will keep for many months at room temperature. But white chocolate, which lacks the antioxidants contained in cocoa solids, has a room-temperature shelf life of only a few weeks, according to Harold McGee's "On Food and Cooking." Coffee Roasted beans can be stored at room temperature for several weeks or frozen for several months, according to McGee. Once ground, coffee will keep at room temperature for only a few days. Frozen Foods For best storage, freezers should be set at 0 F, according to the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association. Beef steaks and roasts, chicken, fruit juice concentrates, lamb roasts and shrimp will keep for a year. Most vegetables, unbaked fruit pies and veal and pork roasts can keep for eight months. Consume breads, cooked meats and ground beef within three months. Ice cream and bacon are best within a month. Herbs and Spices Seasonings generally don't go bad, but they can lose potency. Most experts advise buying herbs and spices in amounts small enough to be used within six months to a year. Cooks may need to adjust seasoning quantities when using older ones. Maple Syrup and Honey Because of its high moisture content, maple syrup must be refrigerated once opened. Unopened, it will keep in a cool, dark place for several years, according to Cook's Illustrated magazine. Once opened, it will keep up to a year in the refrigerator. Honey's low moisture content prevents bacterial growth. It can be stored at room temperaturefor several years. Olive Oil Most companies now label their olive oil with "best by" dates. But as a general rule, the North American Olive Oil Association says olive oil should be consumed within about year from its purchase date. Always store olive oil in a cool, dark place. Most vegetable oils will keep six months to a year. Seed and nuts oils are best within six months. Pasta Dry pasta can be stored for up to a year. Once cooked, it can be refrigerated for three to five days, according to the National Pasta Association. Fresh pasta should be used or frozen by the "best by" date marked on the package. Sauces and Salad Dressings Most of these products — including ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard — have some sort of date coding. They are generally good for a year or more unopened. Once opened, they should be consumed within about 6 months, after which flavor and color can fade. Hot sauces, such as Tabasco, usually last up to five years at room temperature after being opened. Soy sauce in unopened glass bottles will keep for two years. Once opened, it should be refrigerated and consumed within several months. Sugar Sugar, brown or white, can be stored indefinitely in a cool, dry place. Brown sugar that hardens can be revived by letting it stand overnight in a sealed jar with a damp paper towel or apple slice, according to the Sugar Association. Vinegar Most vinegars can be stored at room temperature and used indefinitely. For vinegar with additives, such as fruit pulp, check the label for a date code. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions |
