How to Shop Your Pantry & Freezer First | Faithful Stewardship Begins in the Pantry
One of the simplest and most overlooked ways to steward our homes well is by using what we already have. Before we run to the store for more groceries, there’s wisdom (and savings!) in turning first to your pantry and freezer. This practice, small as it may seem, can become a weekly rhythm of intentionality, thankfulness, and stewardship.
I’ve been blown away by the entire meals the Lord has provided when I’ve first turned to what we already have. I remember one weekend specifically where my grandparents unexpectedly came to visit and I desperately wanted to provide meals for them during their stay. We live on a mountain with limited (and often expensive) food options and my grandparents are in their 70s, so I didn’t want them driving up and down the mountain for food. It would also cut into their short time to visit with us!
The problem was that I’d already created a weekly meal plan and grocery list that was on budget and would only be enough food for my husband, myself, and our daughter.
I prayed to the Lord for guidance and creativity, that He would stretch what we had and give me the wisdom to use the ingredients well, and that I would be able to bless my grandparents during their stay. And God did just that! I was able to rethink our meals, use some ingredients that were stored away in my pantry and freezer, and stretch our food to feed us all weekend.
Now, our meals were modest, our portion sizes were just enough, and only my daughter got extra snacks that weekend. But we were well-fed and I was blessed to provide food for my grandparents during their stay - so they could focus on soaking up their limited time with their first great granddaughter. My grandparents still talk about that weekend and how they didn’t have to think about their meals.
What a beautiful testament to the Lord’s provision, even in the small things, like stretching a weekend of meals to feed a few more!
I’ve been learning how to “shop” my pantry and freezer in my homemaking, and I want to share what I’ve learned with you! Remember to always start with prayer, for we can do nothing apart from Him. :)
Let’s “shop” - here’s how to begin:
1. Start with a Quick Inventory
Open your pantry and freezer and take a quick look around. What’s open? What’s close to expiring? What’s been sitting there untouched for weeks?
Jot down the few things you’d like to use up this week. Treat it like an exercise in paying attention to what the Lord has already provided, avoiding waste, and honoring your resources. Once you get used to taking inventory before making a grocery list, you may even be able to do this without writing it down!
2. Group by Meal Components
To help make sense of your list, group items into simple categories:
Proteins: canned tuna, frozen chicken, beans
Grains: rice, pasta, oats
Veggies: frozen, canned, or fresh
Sauces/Bases: broth, canned tomatoes, seasoning blends
Snacks/Treats: crackers, fruit, granola bars
This can help you see what meals might be hiding in plain sight. Again, once you’re in the habit of “shopping” your pantry and freezer, you may be able to do this in your head!
3. Create Meals Around What You Have
Instead of asking, “What do I feel like making?” - reframe your question to: “What can I make with what God has already given us?”
Try this simple meal formula: Protein + Grain + Veggie + Flavor (spices, sauces, broth). I usually take the meal components and think about some of our favorite meals to use them up - then I add whatever I still need to our grocery list. Rather than starting a grocery list from scratch every week, I’m able to both use what we already have and still use fresh ingredients.
This shift in mindset is more than practical: it teaches contentment, creativity, and faith in God’s ongoing provision.
4. Plan a Pantry Meal Once Per Week
Start small. Set aside one night each week to build a meal from pantry or freezer staples. These nights are great for saving money, minimizing food waste, or bridging the gap between grocery runs.
We always have a “leftover” night on Thursdays, and if there aren’t leftovers from our weekly meals, then I get creative with my freezer and pantry! Sometimes it’s just “breakfast for dinner” - like eggs, frozen sausage patties, and toast with homemade bread - and sometimes I’m surprised by the full meals I find hiding in my pantry and freezer stores.
5. Use Up the “Last Bits”
Those half-used bags, stray cans, or quarter-cups of rice can still serve a purpose! Get in the habit of saving rather than tossing! Some ideas are to combine them into:
Stir-fries
Soups
Casseroles
Grain bowls
Smoothies
Snack boards
I often throw leftovers, half-loaves of bread, tablespoons of minced onions or garlic, or a few ounces of broth into the freezer for another day. It may seem like replacing those items wouldn’t cost too much, so what’s the harm in tossing that half an onion out? But by saving the last bits and being intentional about what I throw away and what I toss in the freezer, I’m able to stretch our grocery budget even farther!
These little bits can stretch further than we think and we honor God when we steward even the scraps with care (John 6:12).
6. Label and Date as You Go
While you're in the pantry or freezer, take a moment to label anything mysterious or unmarked. A piece of tape, a sharpie, and a date can go a long way in helping you avoid waste and plan wisely.
When you’re tossing uneaten leftovers in the freezer, take a moment to write the date on the Tupperware or Ziploc, so you know when you need to eat it again before it goes to waste.
*Pro tip: My mother-in-law recently shared with me one of her favorite kitchen hacks: always keeping a roll of painter’s tape in your pantry! It makes for easy labeling (and even resealing, like bags of flour or sugar), without the added fuss of scrubbing sharpie off Tupperware lids.
7. Pray for a Heart of Contentment
Ultimately, this practice is about more than food. It’s about the heart.
When we “shop our shelves,” we’re reminded that God often provides through what He’s already placed in our hands. We don’t need to chase more, newer, or different to find His faithfulness. It’s already here, even in the back of the freezer.
As Paul writes, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)
So whether you’re preparing a feast or warming up leftovers or wanting to feed and care for unexpected guests, may we do it all unto the Lord - with grateful hearts, open hands, and eyes to see His provision.
Happy stewarding, friends!
