Stocking Your Pantry

Stocking your pantry, refrigerator and freezer with the ingredients and foods you use most often can simplify menu planning and meal preparation. Having a variety of foods on hand in the freezer makes it easy to select a main dish, and keeping your refrigerator and pantry stocked with the fresh or packaged foods you frequently need in your family's favorite meals means there are less last-minute trips to the grocery store. This can also trim your grocery bill in the long run, because you can take advantage of weekly sales and even more economical bulk pricing (such as Costco). Remember, you won't save money if the items you buy spoil before you use them up, so carefully choose the things you purchase in bulk. For the best quality frozen foods, your freezer should be at least two-thirds full and remain at 0 degrees.