# Do you have a food or drink or condiment that you HAVE to have in your home at all times? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 7, 2015, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220 "2015-08-07T05:57:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/61 "2015-08-09T23:09:05Z")
When I was a wee child we had an easter egg hunt. Myself and my siblings found 37 eggs total one year. My mom and dad did the math… One bag egg indeed. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/62 "2015-08-10T02:11:23Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I have “beer” at home, but I also have “BEER” (expensive beer saved for extra special occasions). The last time I ran out of “beer” my gf’s brother arrived for a visit while I was out. He drank three bomber bottles of “BEER” that cost $40 -$60 a bottle. When I came home with two cases of “beer” he was pretty drunk, happy to see his Coors Light, and complained about the crap in the big bottles. ☹ What costs more than $20 a bomber? The most expensive stuff around here is like $15 each. Still, if I’d had bombers of beer that expensive and some guy drank 3 of them and complained, I wouldn’t have reacted well at all. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/63 "2015-08-10T02:37:29Z")
For beverages, I have coffee beans and Luzianne family sized tea bags on hand all of the time. Food, it would have to be cheese, garlic and onions. The must have condiments are soy sauce and hot sauce (more than one variety). Anything else can wait until the next grocery run. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/64 "2015-08-10T02:57:45Z")
> [@bump](#): > > What costs more than $20 a bomber? The most expensive stuff around here is like $15 each. > > Still, if I’d had bombers of beer that expensive and some guy drank 3 of them and complained, I wouldn’t have reacted well at all. There are some Belgian sours that go for around $49. I really like Cantillon Iris, a sour that goes for $30 and is easy to drink. ETA: I usually split the cost of pricey beer with a few friends and we share the beer. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/65 "2015-08-10T04:03:53Z")
Diet Coke (the kind made with natural sweetener) M&Ms (the plain ones) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/66 "2015-08-10T10:22:52Z")
Tea and milk. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/67 "2015-08-10T22:57:17Z")
Iced tea. I always have a pitcher in the fridge. And does dog food count? I make damned sure I never run out of dog food. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/68 "2015-08-10T23:10:49Z")
Garlic Onion Cinnamon Good white bread Butter Olive oil There are many other things I love to always have on hand, but the ones above are the top of the list. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/69 "2015-08-11T04:12:57Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Now my thing is citric acid; I prefer tart drinks no matter what the flavor (I even add lemon to Coke) Me too, and I’ve discovered that Kool-Aid (or generic equivalent) is an incredibly cheap and convenient way to solve this problem. Can be found in most supermarkets for 20 cents a pack, easily carried in my backpack or bike bag, very simple to slyly slip some into a can of Coke or put a gram in the bottom of a Slurpee. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/70 "2015-08-11T16:50:47Z")
Beverages: Tea and Diet Dr. Pepper Condiments: Belgian Brown Mustard, Olives (Green and Black), Pickles (Dill and Bread-and-Butter), Lemon Juice, Lime Juice, Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Sea Salt, Peppercorns in a mill, basil, dill, dried chives Eggs, some kind of good bread, individually-wrapped chicken breasts and cube steaks in the freezer, real butter (not margarine), a hunk of cheddar, rice As long as I had all of the above available, I could come home from a business trip and have a couple of excellent meals before I had to go to the grocery store. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/71 "2015-08-13T17:45:44Z")
Chocolate ice cream Milk Cereal Orange juice ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/72 "2015-08-13T17:50:42Z")
Cat food for the cat? Wait, um, I usually keep some salami, iceberg, and tortillas around. If all else fails, I can make a wrap. But I could substitute bologna, cabbage, and sandwich bread, so…eh. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/73 "2015-08-13T19:43:38Z")
Frozen cherries. I use them as a replacement for all the sweets I want, but aren’t on my diet. Greek frozen yogurt (homemade, so I control the fat and sugar content). Coffee. Half and half (let’s not get carried away with this diet stuff). Cat food. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/74 "2015-08-13T22:28:24Z")
[QUOTE=Jake Jones] Is this so weird? Maybe I should have phrased it better. I always want eggs _available_ even if I rarely finish a dozen eggs before they expire. And by expire, I mean 2-3 weeks after the expiration date on the carton. [/QUOTE] Cackleberries are five bucks a dozen here. Usually, we buy the 5-dozen pack at Sam’s Club and we don’t let a single one go to waste. Does your local market sell half dozens? Managing to run out of coffee beans or Splenda is a “I don’t care if it’s 10:30 - go to the store and get some!” offense. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/75 "2015-08-14T02:52:52Z")
Bread, butter, milk, coffee, sugar, beer, wine, ice cream. We are NEVER without those, but we go grocery shopping almost daily, so we can always pick up anything else we need. ---
**Author:** ![MsKaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@MsKaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsKaren)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/76 "2015-08-14T04:06:25Z")
Tony’s. We put it on most savory items. Full name is Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/77 "2015-08-14T16:08:24Z")
Milk beer condiments: bbq sauces, mustards, hot sauces, horseradish, ranch, salad dressings. I do the same thing with eggs as Jake Jones. I always have to have some. You know those times when you look in the pantry and fridge and even though you have food your brain says, “Ugh, there’s nothing to eat.”? That’s when I make eggs with some kind of condiment on them. And of course Ovaltine. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/78 "2015-08-14T16:14:58Z")
Drink: Milk, Juice, Coffee Food: Garlic, Onions, wedge of Parmesan Cheese, some other sort of snacking cheese, pasta, eggs. Condiment: Cholula, Balsamic Vinegar, Ranch Dressing (Not for me but for wife and granddaughter. I don’t understand the mid west fascination with ranch dressing. They put it on everything.) ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/79 "2015-08-14T16:24:30Z")
Tea, Liptons Yellow Label will do nicely. Yeo’s Sweet Chilli Sauce, it’s in or on most everything I make and eat. Rice, Thai Scented, a great honking sack of it. Were my pantry to be lacking any of these, I would not sleep well until that was remedied. ---
**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220/80 "2015-08-14T20:38:23Z")
yogurt some kind of cheese [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-food-or-drink-or-condiment-that-you-have-to-have-in-your-home-at-all-times/727220.md?page=5)