Top 10 Most Used Ingredients in Everyday Cooking (And How to Master Them)

Behind every delicious dish lies a handful of staple ingredients that show up in kitchens across the world. From the humble onion to the versatile egg, these common cooking ingredients are the foundation of most home-cooked meals. Whether you're building a flavorful sauce, sautéing vegetables, or baking a dessert, chances are you’re using at least one of the ten essentials featured in this guide.

Mastering these ingredients is key to cooking with confidence, creativity, and flavor. Below, we explore the top 10 most-used ingredients, how to store them, best uses, and how to unlock their full potential.

1. Onions

A true kitchen workhorse, onions appear in cuisines across every continent. From stir-fries and soups to curries and stews, they’re often the flavor base of a dish.

• Best uses: Sautéed for flavor bases, caramelized for depth, raw in salads or sandwiches
• Tips: Cook onions low and slow for sweetness; use red onions raw and yellow for cooking

2. Garlic

Garlic brings pungency, aroma, and complexity. It pairs well with nearly all savory dishes and enhances sauces, marinades, and rubs.

• Best uses: Minced in stir-fries, roasted whole, or infused in oils
• Tips: Avoid burning garlic—add it after onions when sautéing

More garlic inspiration at Serious Eats.

3. Olive Oil

A staple in Mediterranean and modern kitchens, olive oil is used for cooking, dressing, and finishing. It adds depth, richness, and a smooth mouthfeel.

• Best uses: Sautéing, salad dressings, pasta, roasted vegetables
• Tips: Use extra virgin olive oil for cold dishes and light sautéing

4. Eggs

One of the most versatile ingredients, eggs serve as a binder, leavening agent, and protein source. From baking to breakfast, they’re everywhere.

• Best uses: Scrambled, poached, in baking, or as coatings
• Tips: Always crack eggs into a separate bowl to avoid shells in your mix

5. Salt

Salt is not just a seasoning—it’s a flavor enhancer that unlocks ingredients’ natural taste. Proper seasoning is what separates bland food from brilliant food.

• Best uses: Seasoning meats, enhancing sauces, finishing veggies
• Tips: Use kosher salt for better control; taste as you go

6. Black Pepper

Paired with salt, black pepper adds subtle heat and aromatic complexity. Freshly ground pepper offers much better flavor than pre-ground.

• Best uses: Finishing touch for eggs, pasta, grilled meats
• Tips: Use a pepper mill to grind fresh pepper just before serving

7. Tomatoes

Whether fresh, canned, or sun-dried, tomatoes are among the most common cooking ingredients for sauces, soups, and salads.

• Best uses: Pasta sauces, stews, curries, bruschetta
• Tips: San Marzano canned tomatoes are ideal for sauces

For more on tomato varieties, check out BBC Good Food.

8. Butter

Butter adds richness, depth, and creaminess. It’s indispensable in baking and brings a silky texture to pan sauces and risottos.

• Best uses: Baking, finishing sauces, sautéing
• Tips: Use unsalted butter for baking to control salt levels

9. Chicken Stock or Broth

This is your secret weapon for flavor-packed dishes. Use it instead of water to instantly elevate soups, grains, and sauces.

• Best uses: Risotto, soups, pan sauces, braises
• Tips: Store-bought broth is fine—just check sodium content

Get stock-making techniques from The Kitchn.

10. Flour

A pantry essential, flour plays a major role in baking, breading, and thickening. From cakes to gravy, it’s a building block of so many recipes.

• Best uses: Baked goods, roux, breading proteins
• Tips: Store in an airtight container to avoid moisture and pests

Why Knowing Your Ingredients Matters

Familiarity with these common cooking ingredients allows you to build meals from instinct, not just recipes. You’ll understand how they interact, how they change with heat or time, and how to balance flavors intuitively. That’s how everyday home cooks become skilled, confident creators in the kitchen.

Bonus: Combine with Cooking Techniques

Ingredients are only half the equation. Combine them with solid techniques, and your food becomes greater than the sum of its parts. If you're ready to take it a step further, explore our Essential Cooking Tips guide for actionable advice.

Final Thoughts

These top 10 most-used ingredients are more than just pantry staples—they're the DNA of delicious home cooking. Master how to handle, combine, and elevate them, and you'll cook with more ease, creativity, and satisfaction. Stock your kitchen with confidence, and let these power players do the heavy lifting.