My pantry essentials this year range from oats to local honey.Rachel Askinasi/Insider
- Pantry staples are personal must-have food items that can vary from season to season.
- While I have my typical list of pantry staples I use all year-round, my foodie needs and cravings have changed during quarantine this year.
- From elevating my usual plain bag of pasta to adding more shallots to my allium haul, my pantry essentials have taken on some new additions.
- Canned tuna, olive oil, rice, Mallomars, chickpeas, pretzels, peanut butter, oats, honey, and golden raisins are all things I like to keep on-hand now.
I was spending time with family when New Yorkers were ordered to stay at home in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, I spent three months with my siblings, my niece and nephew, and their family pantry.
While at their house, I developed a love for oatmeal, golden raisins, pretzel rods, and graham crackers. These pantry staples followed me back to my apartment in New York City. Now, in addition to some of my usual pantry staples like olive oil, garlic, and canned tuna, I've been relying on my newfound favorites to get me through 2020 so far.
If you're looking for some inspiration or ways to think a bit outside the box with your usual stockable goods, here's my list of 12 items I've been leaning heavily on this year.