Tiny urban apartment or spacious rural farmhouse, all homes can include a pantry. A well-planned pantry means that the household will never run out of commonly used products such as toilet paper. More important, a pantry is a reserve against hard times. Whether it's job loss, illness, or natural disaster, a pantry ensures that the family will continue to be fed, clean, and comfortable in the face of adversity. A beginner's pantry focuses on convenience and contains back-up products for each storable item used in the home.
More robust pantries serve additional goals.
A mid-range pantry can feed a family for a period of two weeks to a month in case of emergency. This pantry includes substitutes for fresh foods, such as powdered milk substitutes, dried fruits and vegetables, and protein products. This pantry offers convenience and basic protection. The most comprehensive home pantries are designed to meet long-term food storage needs. To do so, these premier pantry managers stock versatile foodstuffs with long shelf life, such as whole wheat berries, together with a variety of preserved and dried foods.