The Frequent Traveler’s Cheat Sheet to a Well-Stocked Kitchen

My life has always involved extensive travel, and it still does. Sometimes, we return from a trip with a lot to do and no time to run to the supermarket for fresh produce—or we arrive late, making a grocery trip impossible.

I am an avid buyer of delivery food, but when it comes to grocery deliveries, there’s always a margin of error to consider. If we’re delayed at the airport or stuck in traffic, the timing may not align, and we might not be home to receive the order. Because of this, relying on delivery is generally not an option for us.

Yet, I still want to be able to prepare a nice meal, whether light or hearty, using what I already have in the pantry and freezer.

Below, you’ll find a list of items I always make sure to have at home before a trip so that I can easily cook something when I return. I know it would be easier to just order a pizza, but sometimes, after a long journey of eating whatever was available at airports, on the road, or in an entirely different food culture, I just crave something homey and familiar.

To make it easier, I’ve divided the list into essentials for short trips (around a week), where some fridge items will still be usable, and longer trips (more than a month), where fresh items will have perished. This way, you can adjust accordingly.

1+ Month Travel: Relying on Shelf-Stable & Freezer Food.

For extended trips, assume that everything fresh in the fridge will have spoiled. Your pantry and freezer will be your best friends!

These are the items I always keep in my pantry and fridge year-round:

Pantry Essentials:

• Canned beans, lentils, or chickpeas (protein-rich and last forever)

• Long life organic milk

• Long life cooking cream

• Canned chopped tomatoes or passata (perfect for quick sauces)

• Bouillon cubes or stock powder (for soups and stews)

• Jars or cans of vegetables (roasted peppers, corn, olives, capers, gherkins)

• Dried pasta and rice (quick and filling)

• Baking ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder)

• Canned tuna

• Jar of pesto

• Olive oil & vinegar (for cooking and dressings)

• Dried herbs and spices (oregano, paprika, garlic powder, chili flakes, black pepper)

• Wine (for cooking and enjoying with our tasty dishes!)

Freezer Lifesavers:

• Bread (freezes well and can be toasted straight from frozen)

• Chicken breasts or thighs (easy to defrost and cook)

• Fish fillets (great for quick meals)

• Frozen veggies (peas, grean beans, chopped peppers, onions and garlic)

• Frozen herbs (basil, parsley, coriander)

• Frozen berries like raspberries, blueberries, strawberries

• Frozen deveined uncooked prawns

• Ground beef, pork or chicken (freezes well and cooks fast)

• Frozen green or red curry paste

1-Week Travel: Fresh & Long-Lasting Basics

If you're gone for a short trip (10 days or less), you can still keep a few fresh items in the fridge, along with the pantry and freezer items mentioned above.

Pantry Essentials:

• Potatoes

Fridge Must-Haves:

• Eggs (lasts about 3 weeks, so fine for a short trip)

• Cheese (hard cheeses like Parmesan or Cheddar keep well)

• Butter (good for quick cooking and baking)

• Yogurt (great for breakfast or smoothies)

• Fresh vegetables that last longer (carrots, bell peppers, courgettes, onions, garlic)

• Lemons or limes (for seasoning and freshness)
  

Check out the link below — 'No Grocery Run Needed' — for some lovely recipe ideas using ingredients I mentioned above. I hope you enjoyed this post—and that it brings a little ease (and deliciousness!) to your day.