14 essential items everyone should have in their pantry, according to a cruise ship chef

Sanjay Dhall, Carnival Cruise Line's senior director of culinary arts and food operations.Carnival Cruise Line

• A cleverly stocked pantry filled with diverse staples allows for a variety of meals without having to keep returning to the grocery store.
• We asked a cruise ship chef — who is used to planning meals in advance and working with what he has on hand — for his essential pantry items.
• Sanjay Dhall, Carnival Cruise Line's senior director of culinary arts and food operations, suggests stocking up on items that cover the bases of savory, sweet, and umami.
• His must-haves include maple syrup, anchovies, and lasagna sheets.
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Despite much of the world panic-buying inordinate amounts of toilet paper, all you really need when you're sheltering in place and avoiding grocery store runs is a cleverly stocked pantry.

Sanjay Dhall, senior director of culinary arts and food operations for Carnival Cruise Line, knows all about being smart about what you have on hand: Working on a cruise ship, he's used to planning far in advance and stocking up on long-lasting items.

According to Dhall, having a diverse range of pantry staples is essential. Sharing 14 of his must-have items with Insider, Dhall told us his list "lays the foundation for a good basic flavor profile and flexibility while cooking," adding that they cover the bases of savory, sweet, and umami.

Here's exactly what to buy for a perfectly stocked pantry sure to allow for variety.