The 6 Ingredients Ina Garten Always Keeps Stocked in Her Kitchen

Every January, I like to do a little pantry challenge. Basically, I give myself a small weekly budget for produce and dairy, then primarily cook from whatever I have in stock in my pantry and freezer. It’s a great way to cut down on food spending post-holidays, and it also helps me get a sense of what I should—or shouldn’t—stock up on in the new year.

Now that I’ve done this for a few years in a row, it’s really helped me think creatively about how to use ingredients. And I know that I feel better if I have at least two cans of chickpeas in my house at all times—they are my hero product because I can whip up any meal around them. I feel pretty similarly about frozen broccoli, and I never skip picking up either of these. They’re cheap, reliable, and endlessly useful.

I definitely feel calmer and much more prepared in the kitchen now that I have done this kind of extensive pantry therapy. And it kind of got me thinking: What pantry items do other people always like to keep stocked? What about my favorite cooks?

I was specifically interested in Ina Garten, because I feel like she is the queen of casually throwing a beautiful meal together on a whim. Luckily, she's been very straightforward about the ingredients she always has on hand.

The Six Pantry Ingredients Ina Garten Always Has on Hand

According to an interview Ina gave to Bon Appétit some years ago, there are exactly six ingredients that she always keeps stocked in her kitchen: lemons, butter, eggs, parmesan cheese, chocolate, and oatmeal. This list is so Ina.

In my mind, Ina could casually whip up a decadent dessert or comforting pasta dish on a moment’s notice using these staples. And her love of oatmeal for breakfast is well-documented, so I would bet anything that it’s specifically McCann’s Irish Oatmeal in her pantry (and she probably pairs it with her favorite coffee brand for breakfast).

I love that her must-haves are a good mix of fresh and staple ingredients. Parmesan cheese and butter are technically perishable, but they have a long shelf life. And having lemons around makes it so easy to add a splash of acidity to soups, sauces, and more.

Obviously, I don’t really need to make a case as to why it’s important to always keep chocolate in the house.