Free Indian spice pantry starter checklist

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Updated November 1, 2026

Sack of dried red chillies — Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY 2.0

A printable checklist of core spices for Indian home cooking, with storage tips so they stay fresh.

Core whole spices

Cumin seeds
Black mustard seeds
Coriander seeds
Green cardamom pods
Cloves
Cinnamon or cassia sticks
Bay leaves (tej patta)
Dried red chilies

Core ground spices

Turmeric
Kashmiri or other mild red chili powder
Ground coriander
Ground cumin
Garam masala (or make your own from whole spices)

Storage

Keep spices in airtight containers away from heat, light and the stove.
Buy small amounts; ground spices lose flavor faster than whole ones.
Write the purchase date on each jar.

This checklist is general information, built from the sources below. It is not professional advice for your situation.

Sources

USDA FoodKeeper (FoodSafety.gov)