Fall Pantry Staples to Stock Up On Before Winter

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As the tomatoes and peppers fade away and the pumpkins and winter squash come out of the fields, it’s time to shift gears. These fall pantry staples will make it so much easier to cook from scratch, bake with the season, and preserve the harvest.

The second the days start to get shorter, I feel myself craving fall. I live in gorgeous western Washington, and fall heralds crisp mornings, mist in the trees, and stunning gem-like leaves on the trees.

I love the smell of the first wood stove lighting up for the season, and break out all the lamps and candles!

But one of my main tasks this time of year is wrapping up late summer/early fall preserving projects and prepping my pantry. 

With the cooler temps and holidays around the corner, we’re going to be relying on our pantry far more than we did before! Cue all the comfort food faves, like soups and stews, homemade breads, holiday cookies, and more.

Here’s what you’ll want to grab now to avoid fighting the crowds later on.

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Preparing for the holidays? My holiday pantry staples list map out exactly what you’ll want for Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Everyday Pantry Staples

First, I have to say that ALL of these ingredients are on my pantry staples list, which I use all year long.

However, I find myself going through some of these ingredients far more in the fall and winter, and try to keep more of them on hand. 

For example, I used to always buy flour in 5 lb bags during the summer since I wasn’t baking quite as much. But the second the season shifted, I’d buy 2-3 bags at a time. (Now, I just buy 25 lb bags, but it took years to get to this point.)

Dry Goods

Since my pantry staples list already covers all the basics, I’d like to highlight the specific ingredients that we use more of than normal this time of year. Like,

• All purpose flour
• Bread flour (Just grabbed another 10 lb bag to make sandwich bread, pizza dough, and cinnamon rolls!)
• Yeast
• Sugar
• Brown sugar
• Powdered sugar
• Molasses
• Kosher salt
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Whole grains (rice, oats, quinoa)
• Bouillon paste or stock
• Nuts (pecans, almonds, and walnuts)
• Dried fruits (raisins, craisins, dates, apricots)
• Chocolate chips
• Maple syrup
• Honey
• Vanilla extract
• Cornstarch
• Cornmeal (for cornbread with chili)
• Cocoa powder
• Oil (vegetable or coconut)
• Peanut butter
• Dried and canned beans (we especially love cannellini beans and buy them by the case)
• Lots of spices (I have a whole list of them on my PSL)
• Dry pasta for chicken noodle soup and casseroles

Season-Specific Staples

These aren’t on my normal list since they’re more recipe-specific, but you may also want to buy some:

• Evaporated milk
• Sweetened condensed milk
• Marshmallows
• Candied ginger and any other candied fruit for fruit cakes and such
• Canned pumpkin (or freeze your own pumpkin puree)
• Specialty types of chocolate chips (butterscotch, white chocolate, caramel)
• Apple cider for my Apple Cider Cookies
• Corn syrup (traditional in pecan pie, but I just use maple syrup instead!)

Spices

Since we have so much baking ahead of us, take an extra second to make sure you have all the spices you’ll need. Grab a backup for any of your fall favorites, like:

• Cinnamon
• Allspice
• Star anise
• Cloves
• Nutmeg
• Apple pie spice
• Pumpkin pie spice

You can also grab some of the holiday essentials, like dried thyme, parsley, sage, rosemary, and bay leaf. These dried herbs can be a big help when roasting turkeys or chickens!

Bonus: Prep a big batch of homemade vanilla extract. It will take a while, but you’ll have plenty for all your favorite recipes!

Meat and Dairy

We eat a lot of eggs and often get extra this time of year to account for all the baking! It’s also helpful to have both buttermilk and cream on hand, especially around the holidays. 

I buy 18 lbs of butter at a time from Azure Standard, and always like to make an order around October to have plenty in my freezer for last minute crisps and cobblers.

For all your soups and stews, grab some heartier cuts of meat, like beef stew meat or chuck roast and a whole chicken. Save any bones and veggie scraps to make your own stock, too!

• Butter
• Eggs
• Buttermilk
• Heavy cream
• Stew meat and roasts
• Whole chicken

We just placed a big order from Wild Pastures to fill our freezer. These cuts will supplement the ground turkey and chicken breasts we normally have around.

We especially like to make big batches of meatballs and such for meal prepping!

For Preserving

Since we’ve already put up a bunch of jams, jellies, and pickles, I can start dipping into these resources soon. For now, I’m usually in my second round of preserving my making apple butter, pear butter, cranberry sauce, and more. 

For those, it can be really helpful to make sure you have plenty of:

• Pectin (if needed)
• Sugar
• Brown sugar
• Spices
• Oranges and lemons (for the cranberries especially!)

🫙 New to canning? Learn more about the must-have canning supplies here.

Frozen Foods

We still eat some “summer” foods this time of year, but we usually get them frozen. This makes throwing together nutritious meals super simple.

• Green beans
• Frozen berries
• Frozen corn
• Frozen cherries
• Frozen spinach

Seasonal Produce

This is the best part! All those pantry staples will be used to transform seasonal fruits and vegetables into new and delicious dishes. I’ve been stocking up on:

• Potatoes (red potatoes, white potatoes, and sweet potatoes)
• Pumpkins, butternut squash, delicata, and more
• Onions and shallots
• Apples
• Pears
• Cranberries (late fall, around November)
• Kale, spinach, and escarole
• Parsnips
• Rutabagas
• Carrots and beets
• Brussels sprouts

Since winter squash and roots can last for so long, consider buying extra when you find a good price. 

Tip: I love to buy up a bunch of pie pumpkins when I find them! I roast a bunch then freeze the homemade pumpkin puree for cakes and pies later on.

Related Posts

• The Ultimate Guide to Slow Living in Fall
• 7 Ways to Live with the Seasons Every Day
• Why You Need a Well-Stocked Pantry
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