Just my tip! Happy freezing. Hi Brenda, when you do this are you taking the food out of the cans, right? I love it! Yes mam. I usually put 2 open cans to a bag in case company comes and then discard the cans or save clean cans for storing things later!!

Linda, With your Store rewards cards you can stock up on other things too. I bought Red Barons Pizzas for 1. True not as good as homemade but awfully good. I looked in another store I shop at and they are almost 5.

Also our local store has a app and I buy the sale items. They had 4 pound bag of sugar for 99 cents with the app. so I got it plus I got some other sale items. Walmart carries several canned items, for 50 cents. Love finding these win-win deals! Our store reward system also gives us points for money off gas per gallon.

We can also use it for money off our grocery purchase. We save it for gas though. We usually fill up once a month or longer. In fact, we filled up right after Christmas and still have almost a full tank.

All are within miles from home. Hi Deborah, wow, we can use ours for gas which we do but not food. I love the rewards system, thanks for the reminder!!!

I love these tips Linda, thank you! Many stores in our area have purchase limits of 4 canned goods. Things are getting very scary at our stores. I pray for us all. Hi Amy, thank you! Things are so crazy, grab what you can!

My mom used to take us to the grocery store with her when there were limits. My brother and I would get the limited amounts too — so 3 times the limit.

I shop with friends so they get extra for me and I get extra for them. Hi Jennifer, I do the same thing. I remember someone telling me he was making some chili that called for 5 cans of beans.

The limit was 2. He went to multiple stores!! Dollar General and Dollar Tree can be reasonable as well. Coconut milk is more expensive at our Aldis. Juices are lower priced at Walmart, but lately they are out of stock most days. I have bought frozen, juice concentrate as an option because it takes up less storage space in the freezer than large bottles of juice do in the pantry.

Our local grocery stores often have good sales on dried beans and lentils so I take a pass by those each time I am in just to see if there is a sale on. We really do need to be diligent about looking for buys at different stores.

I love my case lot sales, they are priced way below the normal prices. Or olives. I believe things are going to get worse before they get better. I hope people have the food they need. We just bought 8 more lbs of pinto beans and 10 more lbs of white rice.

I have all kinds of seasonings for them. We are having an encore meal left overs tonight. We like to cook enough for two meals. That way all we have to do is reheat. One of my favorites is soup or stew.

I love soup and stew all year. I think I could eat soup every day. I like a lot of juice, hubby likes the veggies and meat. Good team we have.

Hi Deborah, oh I love hearing this, squeal! No beans were on the shelves this week in my area. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your encore meal idea!! LOL Linda, we only use our points for gas, too. I will probably be using some toward groceries toward the end of the month though.

Waste not, Want not! Just returned from a 70 mile round trip to the nearest IGA Independent Grocer. Yes, we prefer home canned but gardens can be unreliable.

We also got great deals on peanut butter, shredded cheese and buttter. And pasta sauce! AND…Tuesday is old fahts discount day!! Hi Beth, what a blessing!! I love homegrown but we need all we can get right now.

Plus, you got PB, cheese, butter, and spaghetti sauce! That was a GREAT day! I make a lot of my food from scratch as the preservatives in manufactured foods exacerbates a medical condition I have.

Hi A Barn, I love being able to order online!! I love hearing this, thank you for sharing! I learned the hard way not to buy the generic brand case lot veggies and fruits. Our favorites are Green Giant for veggies and Del Monte for fruit.

Explains why there canned veggies are better. Same thing for Del Monte regarding fruit. We also get large quantities of canned albacore chunk tuna in water and other canned meats from Costco.

We got some Del Monte corn one time and when I opened the can, there was a big green worm there. I do eat frozen corn. Ray, I already had some protein, chicken. Even if it was cooked.

LOL I did have a boyfriend in first grade, no kindergarten, that did eat worms, but only dirty ones. We are also lucky to have a Costco to get canned meats, you gotta love the quality! I wish we did but I do the best I can with coupons, sales, and of course canning vegetables from my own garden during the summer months.

Revisiting this block post! So, Brenda Marsh mentioned that when a canned item is past the best by date, she removes the food and packages for the freezer. You could also dehydrate many of the canned food. It would take up much less space and if packaged right, could last for several years.

I was thinking about tomato products for sure but I would dh canned beans, canned fruit as well. I know this post is about canned goods but for those like me who are not above dehydrating or as Brenda Marsh mentioned freezing, I keep both my eyes open for frozen fruits and veggies to dehydrate!! Hi Leanne, I agree with you, we must keep our eyes open for anything to freeze or dehydrate!

Great tip! Right now I have enough spaghetti Sauce for a long while. My husband had a fit but I told him Free is free and we will use them although only my daughter and myself eat spaghetti.

I can use spaghetti sauce for other things. My daughter was finally able to get 2 boxes of lasagna noodles and 2 boxes of Jumbo shells that I will use for stuffing. You use a lot less meat when you stuff meat and cheese in lasagna and jumbo shells.

I also allow my son and daughter in love to get what they need in the way of canned and the jars I have in my pantry. Both are disabled and they live on a smaller income than my husband and I do so nothing goes to waist.

I also only buy corn, peas, stir fry veggies, cauliflower, broccoli, Lima beans, and greens if I have room for them. My husband bought me a new fridge and stove this last Christmas so now I have 2 that gives me more freezer space.

HI Jackie, that stove and fridge are a blessing for sure! I love to stir fry, they always have frozen veggies on sale! I love them! It is getting the time of year when we need to go through our home canned items to see what we have and what we need to grow this year.

Also with prices like they are we should be watching out for the seeds to be out for us to buy. Also anther big thing is to start buying canning supplies now before people start hoarding them again like last year. I agree June. I also bought the Mrs. It's also a great way to add protein to whatever you're eating at a moment's notice.

Just be sure to reach for cans with little to no added sodium—that way you can season it yourself and know exactly what you're eating. Same goes for canned chicken, which is the best kind of chicken for making chicken salad sandwiches, IMHO.

Even though frozen vegetables can't technically be stored in the pantry, Moncel still considers them pantry staples because of how often she uses them.

The nice thing about frozen fruits and vegetables is that they're just as fresh and healthy as fresh vegetables, because they're always flash frozen right after they've been harvested. That means all the nutrients they have from the moment they've been picked will still be there when you finally decide to defrost them.

Frozen spinach is one of her favorite frozen products, because it's way cheaper than fresh spinach. Plus, you get more bang for your buck, because frozen spinach is already shrunken, so you know exactly how much you're getting, unlike with fresh spinach, which can go from being a lot to a little in no time.

Unlike their canned counterparts, frozen corn and peas both maintain that satisfying crunch that make those veggies delicious.

Moncel adds them to everything from casseroles to soups. Moncel also loves frozen broccoli. She says you can roast and it will taste virtually the same as fresh roasted broccoli. You can find her recipe for that here. Some of Moncel's favorites are quick-cooking ingredients like rice, quinoa, and lentils.

And of course, Moncel loves pasta, especially now that there are so many different kinds available on the market. So head to the store and stock up on them if you haven't already, so you always have excellent building blocks to make affordable and delicious meals.

SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.

Fitness Food Health Love Beauty Life Conditionally Shopping. Video Challenges Workouts Newsletter Signup. Save this story Save this story. Canned tomatoes, beans, pumpkin, fish, and chicken. Frozen spinach, peas, broccoli, and corn.

Dry goods like rice, quinoa, lentils, and pasta. Topics budget cooking pantry. If you sometimes go a full day without a single green or yellow or orange , read this.

Look, we love granola and berries as much as anyone, but some variety is nice too. A Bunch of Spinach and Salad Kits Were Just Recalled Due to Listeria Concerns.

Try to avoid buying any nut butters with added sugars, hydrogenated oils or high-fructose corn syrup, Perry said. You just want peanuts and a little salt.

These are smart items to have on hand, Perry said. Canned food to the rescue! These are convenient foods to stock in order to achieve that well-balanced diet. Stock up on things you like, Perry said.

Think about the smartest, best types of all your favorites -- and then brainstorm how you can aim for shelf-friendly versions. This story was first published in This low-sodium option tastes great in soups, salads and dips — you can also try mixing it into herbed salsa or zesty pico to top your main protein.

Even if you're not trying to cut back on carbs, we think you'll still love these "noodles" made from hearts of palm. They contain only 20 calories and four grams of carbs per serving and can be used in place of pasta.

Top them with a thick red sauce and your choice of protein for a satisfying meal. These noodles are also available in angel hair , lasagna and rice variations.

You can't beat beets. The pigments called betalains in these colorful veggies can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and reduce inflammation. They're also easy and versatile to cook with, since you can pair beets with everything from meat to fish to chicken, or add them to salads and dips.

The heating that takes place during the canning process can reduce the levels of some nutrients — but not so with carrots. Similar to tomatoes, the antioxidant found in carrots, beta carotene a. vitamin A, is easier for the body to absorb after heating.

Throw these in soups, stews or roast them in your air fryer. It's not just for pie! Pumpkin is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A and C.

It's also loaded with potassium and contains a healthy dose of fiber. Use plain canned pumpkin not the pre-made pie mix like this pick from Farmer's Market Foods for soups or to whip up a quick Pumpkin Spice Mousse recipe.

Peas, part of the legume family, can liven up salads, stir-fries, omelettes and soups. You can even roast them with olive oil for a crunchy snack! They contain a healthy dose of fiber, iron, vitamin C and protein. Jackfruit is technically a fruit, although it's often used as a meat substitute in vegan and plant-forward dishes because of its neutral flavor and meaty texture.

It takes on the spices and flavors of whatever you prepare it with and is a good plant-based stand-in for pulled pork in tacos or sandwiches.

While it doesn't offer the same amount of protein that you'll find in meat, it contains four grams per one cup according to the USDA. An updated version of a classic canned favorite, these diced peach cups now come with zero sugar added they're sweetened with stevia instead of heavy syrup.

Toss these into a yogurt parfait or smoothie for a quick breakfast. With no added sugar, this ready-to-eat pineapple is a favorite of our nutritionists. According to the company, it packs 45 mg of vitamin C compared to the 18 mg commonly found in its competitors' canned pineapple products.

As for how to use it, the options are endless — add it to pizza, yogurt, cottage cheese or even stir fries. It's not just olive oil that packs health benefits — whole olives are also a top staple in the Mediterranean diet.

The monounsaturated fatty acids in these little fruits boost your heart health by lowering LDL "bad" cholesterol while maintaining HDL "good" cholesterol.

As Garten's penne arrabiata recipe states definitively, "I think San Marzano are the best quality of tomatoes.

Canned beans are far more convenient than dried beans. Soaking overnight and then simmering all day? Who has time for that? If you definitely do not, stock your pantry with several varieties of canned beans, so you have some on hand for all the different dishes that come together quickly and easily once you pop the top off.

From soups to chili and salads to nachos, beans add a little extra protein, texture, and nutrition to any meal. However, whatever type of beans you stock up on, you'll want to take into consideration a few things to get the most out of your purchase.

For example, don't necessarily always hold true to that "rinse your beans" rule. If you're watching your sodium, sure, rinse and drain the liquid from your can of beans.

If, though, your dish needs a little extra liquid and some starch, keep that liquid and use it. Yes, you can technically consider chickpeas a bean, but whether or not you stock your pantry with run-of-the-mill bean varieties like black beans or pinto beans, chickpeas deserve their own, distinct spot in your kitchen cabinets.

Not only do canned chickpeas eliminate the lengthy soaking and cooking process required when cooking dried chickpeas hello, hummus in mere minutes!

Aquafaba is an alternative to eggs that can work for vegans and people with egg allergies. You can use this liquid to create a variety of sweet and savory, delicious recipes that are otherwise basically impossible without eggs or, in this case, aquafaba. Think meringues, mousses, and more.

Whenever you use your chickpeas for hummus, salads, or side dishes, just reserve the aquafaba and set it aside for future use. Once you see how the liquid puffs up with just a little cream of tartar into gorgeous meringue peaks, you'll be glad you did.

While not everyone's a fan, there are a few instances where you might reach for canned tuna instead of the packed or raw stuff. If you're making tuna salad or a tuna melt — think dishes that incorporate strong flavors beyond the taste of the tuna itself — canned tuna is incredibly convenient.

But, if you're not convinced merely by the convenience factor, there are a few upgrades and ways to use your canned tuna that might just sell you on this pantry staple. If you have a little extra time, you can upgrade your canned tuna by sautéing it in a bit of olive oil and garlic powder in fact, you might find you like it so much afterward that there's no need for adding mayo to your favorite tuna salad recipe.

Albacore is a popular option for its taste and some health aspects — WebMD notes, it packs higher levels of omega-3 fats — but it also boasts mercury levels three times as high in albacore as those in light tuna. Per recommendations, canned tuna should only be consumed a few times a month, but if you're particularly concerned about mercury, light is the better option.

Canned chicken, much like canned tuna, has its fans and its foes. When stocking up on canned chicken , keep a few things in mind. Firstly, pick one of the better-ranked canned chicken brands , such as Kirkland Signature Premium Chunk Chicken Breast, which is known to be one of your more tender, moist, and flavorful options.

Other favorite options include Hormel Premium No Salt-Added Canned Chunk Chicken Breast in Water and Sweet Sue Chunk White Chicken in Water.

Additionally, consider that when you stock up on canned chicken, you have with a lot of time to use it: Canned chicken can last up to five years in your pantry. So, there's no rush to force a can into a recipe where it might not be a good fit. Sardines truly are one of the superior canned fish options and, really, when's the last time you spotted fresh sardines at your local big-box grocery store?

If you're not already a sardine fan, it's time you acquainted yourself with this salty, little, versatile fish. You can add sardines to your tuna sala d for an oilier, richer, fattier flavor profile.

Sardines in bucatini pair well for an impressive alternative when you're craving Italian, but also something fancier than spaghetti. When shopping for canned fish brands , look to some of our favorite: Bela packs its sardines in lemon extra virgin olive oil.

Jose Gourmet offers Portuguese sardines in tomato sauce. And Jacques Gonidec makes sardines in an onion sauce. If you do decide to try sardines and begin adding this fish to your pantry on a regular basis, you won't be alone. Canned fish has been trending since the start of the Covid pandemic.

Canned salmon is affordable, convenient, and nutritious — and that latter fact is what might make canned salmon a better fit for your pantry over canned tuna. However, nutrition aside, canned salmon is incredibly versatile and an easy addition to salads, egg-based dishes, or some tasty fish cakes.

You can also eat canned salmon straight out of the can on crackers with some lemon juice, salt, and pepper. One of the standards types of salmon in cans is pink salmon, a common species found in the Pacific. Pink salmon isn't as oily as some of the other salmon species, and the fish are usually smaller.

Pink salmon is also sustainably sourced and protected by state and federal regulations, making it a more eco-friendly choice over both some other types of salmon, as well as other types of fish overall.