Cooking from your pantry or freezer is a great way to save money on your grocery bill.  Because you are utilizing what you have instead of running to the store, you will be saving a significant amount of money on your everyday meals.  There is a reason that pantry cooking challenges are so popular.

For you to be successful at a pantry cooking challenge though, it is imperative that you keep some staples on hand all the time to be sure you always have what you need.

Here are 6 pantry staples you should always have on hand to making cooking from your pantry and saving money a breeze:

Seasonings.  Salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, cinnamon and other spices and seasonings are imperative so that you can add flavor to whatever you cook.  

Baking supplies.  Flour, sugar and other baking supplies should always be kept on hand.  With these items, you can make biscuits, breads, muffins and more baked goods at the last minute.

Coffee and Tea.  C’mon.  We all need a good caffeinated drink sometimes, right?  Plus, if you keep them on hand your cup of joe will cost cents per cup instead of dollars.

Canned Vegetables.  Canned vegetables are great pantry staples to keep on hand for several reasons.  First and foremost, it is good to have vegetables with your meals, but also because they are easy to add to stews and casseroles.

Rice.  Rice is a great filler for meals and it is very cheap.  You can add it to casseroles, soups, burritos and more.  

Eggs. Okay, so these don’t go in your pantry, but it is a great idea to always have eggs on hand.  These can be utilized for full meals for breakfast or dinner and are often required for baked goods.