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hy your pantry is the most important place to start
If you want to eat better, the pantry is where it actually happens. A fridge empties in a few days. A well-stocked pantry gives you the building blocks for dozens of meals without a second trip to the shops.
The challenge for most households is cost. Organic grains, pulses, oils, and condiments sit at a noticeably higher price point than conventional alternatives. Over a weekly or monthly shop, that gap adds up. This is where membership pricing changes the logic entirely. At The Better Market, members pay 20% less than the standard retail price across every order. On items you buy month after month, those savings compound quickly.
Below is a practical guide to the organic pantry staples worth keeping stocked, why they matter, and what to look for when buying them.
Grains and pulses
These are the foundation of most home cooking. A good tin of chickpeas, a bag of red lentils, and a solid everyday rice will get you through more meals than almost anything else in the kitchen.
What to keep in stock:
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Red and green lentils
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Chickpeas (dried or tinned)
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Brown or white basmati rice
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Rolled oats
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Quinoa
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Buckwheat
When buying organic, look for certified products. In Ireland, the EU organic certification (the green leaf logo) is the most reliable indicator. Brands like Biona and Clearspring carry a wide range of certified organic grains and pulses and are available through The Better Market at member pricing.
Lentils in particular are worth buying in larger quantities. They store well, cook quickly, and form the base of soups, curries, and salads. Browse the full kitchen staples collection for grains, pulses, and everyday cooking essentials.
Oils, vinegars, and condiments
These are the items most households use slowly but replace regularly. Because they last longer, people tend to tolerate paying more. But the savings on a bottle of extra virgin olive oil or apple cider vinegar add up over a year.
What to keep in stock:
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Extra virgin olive oil (cold pressed)
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Coconut oil
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Apple cider vinegar (with the mother)
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Tamari or organic soy sauce
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Dijon mustard
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Organic stock (liquid or cubes)
Bragg is one of the better-known options for apple cider vinegar and is stocked at The Better Market. For olive oil, look for cold-pressed options where the harvest date is listed on the label. Browse oils, vinegars, and condiments in the kitchen staples collection.
Nut butters and spreads
These serve double duty in most households: breakfast on toast, snacks, and cooking bases. Almond butter, peanut butter, and tahini are the three worth having at any given time.
What to keep in stock:
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Organic peanut butter (100% peanuts, no added sugar or palm oil)
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Almond butter
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Tahini (unhulled or hulled)
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Coconut butter or cream
The label matters here. A lot of mainstream nut butters contain palm oil, added salt, and sugar. Organic options tend to have shorter, cleaner ingredient lists. Meridian and Biona both produce solid options available at The Better Market.
Tins and jars
A well-stocked collection of tins makes it possible to put a decent meal together on a bad day, without relying on takeaways or processed food.
What to keep in stock:
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Chopped tomatoes
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Coconut milk
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Kidney beans and black beans
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Lentils (ready to use)
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Tinned fish (sardines, mackerel, tuna if relevant to your diet)
The quality difference between a good organic tinned tomato and a budget alternative is one of the most noticeable upgrades you can make in the kitchen. Browse tinned and jarred essentials at The Better Market.
Dried fruit, nuts, and seeds
These are snack staples and cooking ingredients at the same time. A bag of pumpkin seeds can go on porridge, into a salad, or be eaten straight from the bag.
What to keep in stock:
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Pumpkin seeds
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Sunflower seeds
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Mixed nuts (unsalted, unroasted for versatility)
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Raisins or sultanas (organic, unsulphured where possible)
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Medjool dates
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Desiccated coconut
Look for sulphur dioxide-free dried fruit where you can. Conventional dried apricots and raisins often contain it as a preservative. The organic versions skip it and tend to taste noticeably better. Browse the full nuts, seeds, and dried fruit range at The Better Market.
Baking essentials
Even if you only bake occasionally, a few basics mean you can make bread, muffins, pancakes, or flapjacks without a special shopping trip.
What to keep in stock:
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Spelt or wholemeal flour
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Bicarbonate of soda
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Baking powder (aluminium-free)
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Raw honey or maple syrup
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Dark chocolate (70% and above, organic)
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Vanilla extract (not essence)
Doves Farm produce a range of organic flours that work well for everyday baking and are available through The Better Market. Browse the baking essentials range at The Better Market.
How membership changes the cost of stocking a good pantry
The honest version of this conversation is that organic pantry staples cost more than conventional alternatives. That is just true.
But there are two things worth noting. First, the per-use cost of most pantry staples is low. A bag of organic oats used across thirty breakfasts works out to pennies per serving, not euros. The upfront cost looks higher; the per-meal cost is not. Second, membership pricing at The Better Market reduces the gap between organic and conventional significantly. At 20% off recommended retail prices across every order, the premium you pay for organic gets a lot more manageable.
If your monthly pantry spend is around €80, membership saves you roughly €16 per shop. At €60 for the year, that pays for itself in under four months.
Shop organic pantry staples at The Better Market
The Better Market stocks a wide range of organic pantry essentials from trusted brands including Biona, Meridian, Bunalun, Bragg, and Doves Farm. Members get 20% off RSPs on every order with free delivery across Ireland.
Browse the full kitchen staples range | See how membership works
