April 23rd is St. George's Day — England's national day and, coincidentally, one of the best moments to take stock of what's sitting in your kitchen cupboards. Spring is in full swing, seasonal produce is arriving at its peak, and there's no better excuse to refresh your stores and cook with what's growing locally.

What's in Season Right Now?

Late April is a genuinely exciting time for British produce. Keep an eye out for:

  • English asparagus — the season runs from late April to June, and home-grown asparagus is far superior to anything imported. Buy fresh, use quickly, or blanch and freeze for later.
  • Rhubarb — now past its forced indoor season and into outdoor-grown territory. Tart, vibrant, and brilliant for compotes, crumbles, and jams.
  • Spring onions and radishes — quick-growing and widely available, perfect for grain bowls and salads.
  • New potatoes — Jersey Royals are beginning to arrive. Store in a cool, dark place and use within a fortnight.
  • Wild garlic — if you're near woodland, foraged wild garlic makes an exceptional pesto or soup base.

Pantry Staples Worth Topping Up

Alongside fresh produce, St. George's Day is a good prompt to restock your dry goods:

  • Red lentils and dried chickpeas — the backbone of quick, satisfying midweek meals. Lentil dal with seasonal greens takes under 30 minutes.
  • Oat milk — versatile for both sweet and savoury dishes.
  • Wholegrain pasta and brown rice — energy-dense staples that pair well with spring vegetables.
  • Tinned tomatoes — always useful, especially when roasting asparagus for a quick pasta sauce.

Use Pantrist to check what you've already got before heading to the shops. The app's stock view shows exactly what needs topping up, so you don't double-buy or let things quietly expire at the back of the cupboard.

Making the Most of English Asparagus

Asparagus is best eaten the day you buy it, but if you need to store it:

  1. Stand the spears upright in a jar with a centimetre of water.
  2. Cover loosely and keep in the fridge.
  3. Use within 2–3 days for best flavour.

Alternatively, blanch for 2 minutes, cool in iced water, then freeze in portions. Pantrist's expiry alerts will remind you before fresh stocks go over.

A Simple St. George's Day Supper

For an easy seasonal dinner tonight, try roasted asparagus with lemon zest and toasted pine nuts, served over pearl barley or quinoa with a handful of fresh herbs. Finish with a rhubarb and ginger compote for something sharp and sweet.

No elaborate recipe needed — just good seasonal ingredients and a pantry that's ready for them.

Keep Your Pantry Working Year-Round

St. George's Day is a useful prompt for a quick pantry audit. Toss anything past its best, note what's running low, and lean into what's in season locally. With the Pantrist shared shopping list, the whole household can contribute to restocking — no more duplicates, no more forgotten items.

Spring is short and the best produce won't wait. Make the most of it.