The Food 52 editors have an interesting  discussion on the basic foods people need  to  create and maintain a well-stocked pantry and refrigerator. It's not as easy as it sounds. As they say:

"When we first began, we thought this list would be straightforward: here's what you should buy every time you go to the grocery store. End of story. But after we all drew up our weekly 'must-buy' lists and put them side by side to compare, we realized it wasn't that simple. We buy what we buy every week for a variety of reasons - most of them deeply connected to our history as home cooks, with a modicum of practicality thrown in for good measure. What did our mother always have in the fridge? What are our various dietary quirks? A favorite midnight nibble?"

And while the editors' lists are interesting, equally stimulating are the lists the Food 52 members have contributed. If you're looking to start a must-have pantry list, want to amend an existing list, or just seeking some ideas to expand your pantry, this is a great place to start.