> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.trysouschef.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Pantry in Souschef — an experimental way to track long-lasting ingredients
> Pantry is an experimental feature for tracking long-lasting ingredients you already have. Learn when it's useful, how it works with Shopping Lists, and how to share feedback.
Included in Free plan
Good news — Pantry is available to everyone using Souschef.
Pantry is an experimental feature for keeping a simple list of ingredients you already have. It is still evolving — and it works best when you treat it as a lightweight reminder, not a full inventory system.
## When Pantry is useful
Pantry is most practical for long-lasting ingredients that stay in your kitchen for weeks or months. Think of it as a place to remember the staples you tend to forget you already own.
Good fits include:
* Spices and herbs
* Sauces, oils, and condiments
* Baking staples
* Dry pantry items (rice, pasta, canned goods, and similar)
If you mostly cook with the same shelf-stable staples, Pantry can help you skip those items when you generate a [shopping list](/using/shopping-list).
## How it works with Shopping Lists
When you [generate a shopping list](/using/shopping-list) from a recipe, Souschef checks ingredients against your Pantry:
* Matching ingredients are marked with an **In Pantry** badge
* Those ingredients are not added to the shopping list automatically
* You can still add them manually if you're running low
## How to add ingredients
The most reliable way to use Pantry today is to add items manually. Tap the **+** button in Pantry, type the ingredient name, and choose a location if you want.
You can also organize items by location (Fridge, Freezer, or Pantry) and edit or remove them anytime.
### Experimental ways to add items
Pantry also supports:
* **Receipt scanning** — photograph a grocery receipt and review detected items before adding them
* **Pantry photos** — photograph a shelf or fridge and review detected ingredients before adding them
These workflows are still experimental. They can be interesting to try, but we do not recommend them as part of an everyday routine yet.
## What Pantry is not (yet)
Pantry is not a finished inventory management system. A few current limitations:
* It does not automatically stay up to date as you cook or shop
* Continuously updating it after every grocery trip often adds more effort than value
* Receipt scanning and pantry photos are experimental, not everyday tools
You do not need to track everything you buy. Fresh produce and other short-lived ingredients change too often to be worth the upkeep for most people.
## Why some people skip tracking everything
For many cooks, a complete kitchen inventory creates more maintenance than benefit. Pantry works best when you keep it small — a short list of staples that tend to stick around.
If maintaining Pantry feels like a chore, use it less or skip it entirely. Shopping Lists and the rest of Souschef work fine without it.
Start with spices, oils, sauces, and a few dry staples. That small set is
often enough to make shopping lists a bit smarter without much upkeep.
## Help shape Pantry
Pantry is one of Souschef's newest experimental features, and we're still exploring the best way to make it genuinely useful.
If you have ideas, workflows, or pain points you'd like Pantry to solve, we'd love to hear from you. Your feedback will directly influence where the feature goes next.
[Contact us →](/troubleshooting/contact-support)
***
## Related articles
* [Pantry FAQ](/using/pantry-faq)
* [Shopping List](/using/shopping-list)
## Still need help?
If you have questions or run into anything unexpected, our team is happy to help. [Contact support](/troubleshooting/contact-support)
