6 Condiments Ina Garten Always Keeps in Her Pantry (2024)

Healthy Lifestyle

In this case, store-bought is fine.

Alex Loh isEatingWell's associate food editor. As part of the food team, she creates healthy, delicious recipes for theEatingWellaudience. Alex also writes informative food and cooking articles that range from how to store ground beef to the best picks from Trader Joe's. Alex conducts product and taste tests to find the best options, from salad spinners to salsas.

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Updated on January 26, 2024

6 Condiments Ina Garten Always Keeps in Her Pantry (2)

Tune into any episode of Ina Garten's show, Barefoot Contessa, and it's likely you'll hear her say, "Store-bought is fine." This popular saying is Garten's way of reassuring novice cooks like myself that not everything has to be homemade (it's also the phrase that's inspired hundreds of hilarious memes). And one area in Garten's kitchen where you'll find store-bought ingredients is the pantry.

On her website, Garten has pages dedicated to the ingredients that she buys instead of makes. While she chooses to buy ingredients like Urbani white truffle butter and Libby's pumpkin puree, it was the common, everyday condiments that stood out to me. From vanilla extract to balsamic vinegar, check out Garten's go-to staples below and get them for your own pantry.

6 Ina-Approved Condiments

Maille Mustard, Old Style

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This mustard is made with whole seeds and has a slightly grainy texture, making it perfect for sandwiches, vinaigrettes and more. We're betting that Ina uses it in her recipes for Mustard-Roasted Potatoes and Mustard-Roasted Fish.

Fini Balsamic Vinegar

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Use this tart, 12 month-aged vinegar as a dressing for salad, on chicken or drizzled over a caprese-inspired salmon. The vinegar should be stored in a cool, dark place for optimal flavor and freshness.

Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract

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When Ina refers to "good vanilla," she's talking about this exact brand of extract. Though it's not technically a condiment, this vanilla is perfect for baking cakes and other sweet treats. If a recipe calls for another type of vanilla, i.e., bean, powder or paste, you can use this extract as a substitution.

Hellmann's Mayonnaise

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Mayonnaise makes any sandwich better, and this classic brand is Garten's go-to choice (Hellmann's was also Julia Child's pick). You can store this in the pantry, but be sure to keep in the fridge after opening for optimal taste.

Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard

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Compared to Maille's mustard, Grey Poupon's Dijon mustard has a smoother and creamier texture. It has a spicy and sharp taste that would work well with ham or turkey. Ina loves using Dijon in her Vinaigrette for Green Salad and Chicken Thighs with Creamy Mustard Sauce.

Huy Fong Sriracha

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Add a kick of heat to your next meal with the addition of Sriracha. You could use it in our Sriracha, Egg & Avocado Overnight Oats for a bold and flavorful bite.

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