During the Great Depression, families relied on simple, affordable ingredients to get by. These pantry staples were cheap, filling, and easy to store.

Today, with rising food prices and uncertain times, many of those same items are just as useful. They help you stretch meals, waste less, and save money.

Here are 25 Depression-Era pantry staples worth keeping on hand when times get tough.

1. Flour

Flour is one of the most useful staples in any pantry. You can use it to make bread, biscuits, pancakes, tortillas, dumplings, and even pasta.

When money is tight, scratch-made baked goods offer a cheaper alternative to store-bought items.

A simple mix of flour, water, and fat can become a hearty side or main dish. You can also use it as a thickener in gravies and sauces.

It’s incredibly versatile and stores well in an airtight container.

2. Cornmeal

Cornmeal offers variety when wheat flour gets boring. It’s used to make cornbread, hush puppies, corn cakes, and mush—a basic dish made by boiling cornmeal in water, and then slicing and frying it the next day.

Cornmeal adds texture and flavor to baked goods and costs very little per serving. It doesn’t need refrigeration and lasts for months in the pantry.

3. Oats

Oats are more than just a breakfast option. While they’re commonly used for oatmeal, they’re also great in baking—think oatmeal cookies, muffins, and even bread.

You can add oats to ground meat to stretch it further in things like burgers or meatloaf.

Oats are filling, high in fiber, and incredibly shelf-stable. Just add hot water and a bit of sweetener or fruit, and you have a quick, satisfying meal.

4. Rice

Rice is one of the most economical grains to keep stocked. It works as a side, a base for stews, or as the main ingredient in dishes like fried rice or rice and beans.

It pairs with vegetables, meats, eggs, or sauces, and can be seasoned in countless ways.

One cup of dry rice yields multiple servings, making it perfect for stretching meals. It also stores well in bulk without refrigeration.

5. Pasta

Pasta is quick, filling, and endlessly adaptable. You can serve it with tomato sauce, garlic and oil, or just a bit of butter and salt.

Add in canned veggies or leftover meat, and you’ve got a complete meal.

It cooks fast, which helps conserve energy or fuel. Plus, pasta comes in many shapes and sizes, offering variety without added cost. It stores for a year or more in a cool, dry place.

6. Dried Beans

Dried beans are one of the most affordable protein sources you can buy. They store well for years if kept dry and sealed.

Once cooked, they triple in volume, which makes them great for feeding a family.

You can use them in chili, soups, and bean salads, or mash them into spreads and patties.

They also pair well with rice, pasta, and vegetables. While they take time to soak and cook, the savings and flexibility make it worth the effort.

7. Canned Beans

Canned beans offer the same nutritional benefits as dried beans but with much more convenience.

They’re already cooked, which makes them ideal for quick meals. Just open the can, rinse them off, and they’re ready to go.

Add them to stews, burritos, or grain bowls for fast, protein-rich meals. They also last a long time on the shelf, making them a dependable emergency food.

8. Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is high in protein, shelf-stable, and kid-friendly.

You can spread it on bread, add it to oatmeal, or use it in sauces and baked goods. It’s calorie-dense, which makes it a great option when food is limited.

A small spoonful can provide lasting energy, and it doesn’t need to be refrigerated until opened. It’s also one of the most affordable non-meat proteins available.

9. Lard or Shortening

Lard and shortening are affordable cooking fats that last a long time without refrigeration. They’re used in frying, baking, and making dough tender and flaky.

When butter is too expensive or unavailable, lard becomes a dependable alternative. It works well in pie crusts, biscuits, and skillet meals.

It also adds flavor and crispiness when frying potatoes, bread, or simple batters.

10. Sugar

Sugar was once rationed during tough times, but even in small amounts, it’s essential. It balances flavors, helps preserve fruit, and makes basic recipes feel like a treat.

A bit of sugar can improve oatmeal, tea, sauces, or baked goods. You don’t need much—just enough to take the edge off.

11. Molasses

Molasses is a thick, dark syrup used when sugar is limited. It sweetens baked goods and adds a rich, earthy flavor.

You can use it in cookies, muffins, or as a glaze. It also works well in savory recipes, like baked beans. It’s inexpensive, shelf-stable, and lasts a long time.

12. Baking Powder & Baking Soda

These leavening agents make breads, muffins, and cakes rise. Without them, baked goods turn out flat and dense.

They’re small items, but they play a big role in scratch baking.

Baking soda also doubles as a cleaning product, which adds more value to your pantry.

13. Powdered Milk

Powdered milk is simply milk with the moisture removed. It stores well in a sealed container and can last for years.

When you need it, just mix it with water.

You can drink it, use it in recipes, or add it to oatmeal and cereal.

It also works in baking, sauces, and any dish where regular milk is needed. It’s a practical option that stretches far and doesn’t spoil quickly.

14. Evaporated Milk

Evaporated milk is another long-lasting milk substitute. It comes in cans and has a thicker consistency because about half of the water is removed.

You can add it to coffee, pour it into sauces, or use it in baking for a richer flavor.

It’s not meant for everyday drinking, but it adds creaminess to recipes that need a dairy boost.

Since it’s canned, it can sit in the pantry for months without going bad.

15. Onions

Onions are one of the most valuable vegetables in any pantry. They’re cheap, easy to store, and bring rich flavor to soups, stews, gravies, and sauces.

A single onion can transform plain ingredients into something savory and satisfying.

You can sauté them, roast them, or add them raw to salads and sandwiches. They’re small, but they go a long way in the kitchen.

16. Potatoes

Potatoes are filling, affordable, and incredibly versatile. You can boil, bake, mash, fry, or roast them.

They work as a side dish or the base of a meal. You can stretch them further by combining them with onions, cabbage, or canned meats.

They last for weeks in a cool, dark place and are easy to grow in small spaces. Potatoes help make any meal more substantial without much cost.

17. Carrots

Carrots are another root vegetable that stores well and adds both nutrition and color to meals.

Slice them into soups or stews, grate them into baked goods, or eat them raw as a snack.

They’re sweet, affordable, and rich in vitamins. A few carrots can make a big difference in a plain pot of soup.

18. Cabbage

Cabbage is one of the most budget-friendly vegetables you can buy. It’s dense, lasts a long time, and can be used raw in slaws or cooked in stir-fries, soups, and casseroles.

A single head can stretch across multiple meals. It adds bulk, texture, and fiber while keeping costs low. You can boil it, fry it, or ferment it if needed.

19. Salt

Salt is one of the most important pantry staples. It enhances the flavor of almost every dish.

Just a pinch can make plain rice or beans taste better. Salt also acts as a preservative.

It’s used in curing, fermenting, and pickling to keep food from going bad. It’s cheap, lasts forever, and doesn’t require refrigeration. Every frugal pantry needs it.

20. Vinegar

Vinegar is more than just a cooking ingredient. It’s useful for pickling vegetables, adding tang to sauces, and brightening up soups or stews.

It can also be used for cleaning, which saves money on household products. It stores well and has a very long shelf life. A little goes a long way.

21. Bouillon Cubes

Bouillon cubes—or powdered stock—are a smart way to make broth from plain water. They add instant flavor to rice, pasta, soups, stews, and gravies.

They’re small, cheap, and easy to store. When you don’t have meat or bones to make your own stock, bouillon gives you a flavorful shortcut.

22. Canned Tomatoes

Canned tomatoes are a multipurpose staple that works in endless recipes. You can use them as a base for sauces, soups, stews, casseroles, or chili. They add acidity, richness, and color.

Whether crushed, diced, or whole, canned tomatoes make plain ingredients taste fuller and more complete. They’re inexpensive and keep well in the pantry.

23. Dried Fruit

Dried fruit lasts much longer than fresh fruit and takes up less space. It’s often used to sweeten baked goods like muffins or quick breads.

A small handful added to oatmeal or porridge can make a plain meal feel special.

Raisins, prunes, and dried apples were commonly used because they were cheap and available.

Dried fruit also works as a snack or can be soaked and stewed for a warm dessert.

24. Crackers or Hardtack

Crackers and hardtack are both long-lasting and easy to store. Hardtack is a simple, very dry biscuit made from flour, water, and salt.

It doesn’t spoil easily and was often eaten with soup or soaked in milk or broth to soften.

Crackers serve a similar purpose—they can be used in place of bread, crumbled into soup, or topped with spreads like peanut butter.

When fresh bread isn’t available, these fillers help keep meals complete and satisfying.

25. Coffee or Chicory

Coffee has long been a daily ritual for many. During the Depression, people stretched their coffee supply by mixing in roasted chicory root or even ground grains.

It wasn’t quite the same, but it gave the familiar flavor and warmth people looked forward to. Whether strong or watered down, having a warm cup of coffee helped start the day and kept morale up.

Chicory became a popular substitute because it was cheaper and didn’t require rationed coffee beans.

Even today, keeping coffee—or a simple alternative—on hand can provide a sense of comfort and routine when everything else feels uncertain.

Conclusion

These pantry staples may be simple, but they serve a purpose. They save money, reduce waste, and help you cook full meals with less.

Frugal living isn’t about going without. It’s about making smart, lasting choices that work in any season.

Stocking up on these time-tested ingredients can bring stability—and maybe even comfort—to uncertain times.

Try a few and explore the recipes that helped generations before us do more with less.