“Must-Have Ingredients for Your Kitchen: Tips from a Private Chef”

• Meredith Hayden is a private chef in New York City and the Hamptons.
• She recently spoke to Insider about the six ingredients all home cooks should keep in their kitchen.
• She said she’s “a fan of frozen food” and stocks up on items from Trader Joe’s.

Insider spoke to Meredith Hayden — a private chef and recipe developer based in New York City — before her appearance at the 2023 South Beach Wine & Food Festival in February, about the ingredients she keeps in her kitchen at all times for quick meals.

Hayden said there are six items she always has in her fridge and pantry, both for her own personal cooking and when she’s making meals for clients: “really good” olive oil, kosher salt, lemons, sourdough bread, salted butter, and frozen meals.

Sourdough helps meals ‘feel complete’

“I always have sourdough bread on hand,” Hayden told Insider. “I think it’s just a really easy starting point when it comes to easy meals at home, whether it’s making a quick avocado toast, making a sandwich, or making a braise and serving it with crusty bread.”

“I think bread really takes certain meals and makes them feel whole,” Hayden said. “It makes them feel complete.”

Frozen food is budget-friendly and convenient

Hayden also said that she has a few go-to items she buys from the Trader Joe’s frozen section.

“I’m definitely a fan of frozen food. I feel like a big misconception about chefs is that they don’t like food that’s convenient,” she continued.

“Cooking for a living and living on a budget has made me a bit more reluctant to order takeout than most New York City people, just because I see how expensive it can be,” Hayden said. “I’m more likely to stock up on Trader Joe’s frozen food to have, instead of ordering takeout during those desperate times.”

Hayden said that while she’s tried a variety of Trader Joe’s frozen meals, the orange chicken and Gyoza potstickers are her favorite. 

Meredith Hayden told Insider that her favorite items from Trader Joe’s are the chain’s Gyoza pot stickers and orange chicken.

Erin McDowell/Insider

“While I definitely don’t think your entire home-cooking experience should be comprised of convenient, ready-to-eat freezer meals, I think that they’re a really good and affordable substitute for people who live busy lifestyles,” Hayden said.