This list includes 52 Groceries that start with M, from “Macadamia nuts” to “Mustard seed”. It covers fresh produce, pantry staples, dairy, spices, meats and snacks commonly used for cooking, baking, snacking, and seasoning.
Groceries that start with M are everyday supermarket items spanning global cuisines, from tropical fruits to pantry spices. Many, like mango or mustard, carry long culinary histories and regional significance.
Below you’ll find the table with Item, Category, Usage, and Popular brands.
Item: The grocery name you see in stores and recipes, so you can quickly identify products during shopping or menu planning.
Category: General food group or supermarket aisle, helping you organize your shopping list and know how to store items at home.
Usage: Brief notes on common preparations and servings, so you know how to cook, garnish, or substitute items in recipes.
Popular brands: One to four well-known brands you may find; useful when choosing quality or searching for products online or in stores.
Groceries that start with M
| Name | Category | Typical unit/pack size | Popular brands | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | Dairy | 1 gal | Horizon, Organic Valley, DairyPure | Everyday staple for drinking, cereal, cooking and baking; sold whole, reduced-fat and flavored. |
| Margarine | Dairy | 16-oz | Country Crock, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Imperial | Butter alternative used for spreading and baking, sold in tubs or sticks. |
| Mayonnaise | Condiment | 12-oz | Hellmann’s, Kraft, Duke’s | Creamy condiment for sandwiches, salads and dressings; comes in classic, light and flavored varieties. |
| Mustard | Condiment | 8-oz | French’s, Gulden’s, Grey Poupon | Tangy condiment used on sandwiches, hot dogs and in sauces; available yellow, Dijon and whole-grain. |
| Maple syrup | Pantry | 12-oz | Log Cabin, Mrs. Butterworth’s, Kirkland | Sweet syrup from maple sap used on pancakes, in baking and glazing meats. |
| Molasses | Pantry | 12-oz | Brer Rabbit, Grandma’s | Thick, sweet syrup from sugarcane used in baking, marinades and barbecue sauces. |
| Mackerel | Seafood | 1 lb | King Oscar, Brunswick | Oily, flavorful fish sold fresh or canned, good grilled, smoked or in salads. |
| Mussels | Seafood | 1 lb | Crown Prince, Roland | Shellfish sold fresh or canned; steamed, added to pasta or seafood stews. |
| Mozzarella | Dairy | 8-oz | Galbani, BelGioioso, Kraft | Mild, stretchy cheese for pizzas, salads and casseroles; available fresh or shredded. |
| Mascarpone | Dairy | 8-oz | Galbani, BelGioioso | Rich Italian cream cheese used in desserts like tiramisu and in creamy sauces. |
| Miso | Pantry | 8-oz | Marukome, Hikari, Miso Master | Fermented soybean paste for soups, marinades and dressings with savory umami flavor. |
| Macaroni | Pantry | 16-oz | Barilla, Ronzoni, Mueller’s | Short tubular pasta used in casseroles, salads and macaroni and cheese. |
| Marinara sauce | Pantry | 24-oz | Ragu, Prego, Classico, Rao’s | Tomato-based pasta sauce used for spaghetti, pizza and simmering proteins. |
| Marmalade | Pantry | 12-oz | Bonne Maman, Smucker’s | Fruit preserve, often citrus, spread on toast or used in glazing and baking. |
| Marzipan | Bakery | 7-oz | Odense, Königs (regional) | Almond paste used for candies, cake decorations and baking. |
| Mustard greens | Produce | 1 lb | Melissa’s, Local farms | Peppery leafy greens for sautés, soups and Southern-style dishes. |
| Mango | Produce | each | Dole, Del Monte, Local farms | Sweet tropical fruit eaten fresh, in salsas, smoothies and desserts. |
| Mandarin | Produce | 3 lb bag | Cuties, Halos, Del Monte | Small, sweet citrus easy to peel for snacking, salads and desserts. |
| Mushroom | Produce | 8-oz | Giorgio, Monterey, Driscoll’s (packaged) | Versatile fungi (button, cremini) used in sautés, soups, pizzas and sauces. |
| Muesli | Pantry | 12-oz | Bob’s Red Mill, Alpen, Nature’s Path | Rolled oats with nuts and dried fruit, eaten with milk or yogurt for breakfast. |
| Mole sauce | Pantry | 12-oz | Herdez, Doña María | Rich Mexican sauce with chiles and chocolate, used with chicken and pork. |
| Mint | Produce | bunch | Melissa’s, Local farms | Aromatic herb for drinks, desserts, salads and garnishes. |
| Malt vinegar | Condiment | 16-oz | Sarson’s, Heinz | Vinegar from malted barley, popular with fish and chips and pickling. |
| Marshmallows | Pantry | 10-oz | Jet-Puffed, Kraft | Soft confection used in s’mores, hot chocolate and baking. |
| Milk chocolate | Snack | 1.55-oz | Hershey, Lindt, Ghirardelli | Creamy chocolate used for snacking, baking and candy making. |
| Macadamia nuts | Snack | 8-oz | Mauna Loa, Planters, Kirkland | Rich, buttery nuts for baking, snacking and confections. |
| Mixed nuts | Snack | 12-oz | Planters, Kirkland, Emerald | Assorted shelled nuts for snacking, baking and trail mixes. |
| Mahi-mahi | Seafood | 1 lb | Wild-caught, Trident | Firm white fish for grilling, baking or pan-searing. |
| Mortadella | Meat | per lb | Boar’s Head, Fiorucci | Italian deli meat with a mild, slightly spiced flavor; used in sandwiches and antipasti. |
| Milk powder | Pantry | 1 lb | Carnation, Nido | Shelf-stable powdered milk for baking, drinking and emergency stores. |
| Mustard seed | Spice | 2-oz | McCormick, Spice Islands | Whole seeds used for pickling, spice blends and Indian cooking. |
| Mango juice | Beverage | 1 L | Jumex, Goya, Langers | Sweet tropical juice for drinking, cocktails and smoothies. |
| Macaroni and cheese | Pantry | 7.25-oz | Kraft, Annie’s, Velveeta | Boxed comfort food with pasta and creamy cheese sauce mix. |
| Muenster | Dairy | 8-oz | Kraft, Boar’s Head, Borden | Mild, semi-soft cheese good on sandwiches, melts and cheese plates. |
| Minestrone | Pantry | 18-oz | Progresso, Campbell’s | Hearty vegetable and bean soup, sold canned for quick meals. |
| Millet | Pantry | 1 lb | Bob’s Red Mill, Arrowhead Mills | Small gluten-free grain used in porridge, salads and baking. |
| Mung beans | Pantry | 1 lb | Roland, Bob’s Red Mill | Small green legumes used in soups, sprouted salads and Asian dishes. |
| Matzo | Bakery | 6-oz | Manischewitz, Streit’s | Unleavened flatbread used for Passover and as a cracker or base for toppings. |
| Marshmallow creme | Pantry | 7-oz | Durkee, Kraft | Spreadable sweet cream for sandwiches, frostings and baking. |
| Meyer lemon | Produce | each | Local farms, Organic growers | Slightly sweeter, fragrant lemon for cooking, baking and cocktails. |
| Mango chutney | Pantry | 12-oz | Patak’s, Sharwood’s | Sweet-spicy condiment for curries, sandwiches and cheese boards. |
| Manchego | Dairy | 8-oz | A Spanish producer, supermarket delis | Firm Spanish sheep’s milk cheese for tapas, sandwiches and grating. |
| Macaroon | Bakery | pack | Homemade brands, supermarket bakery | Chewy coconut cookie often sold prepackaged or in bakery sections. |
| Macaron | Bakery | each | Ladurée (specialty), Local bakeries | Delicate French meringue sandwich cookie sold in bakery cases. |
| Malted milk powder | Pantry | 14-oz | Horlicks, Ovaltine, Carnation | Powdered malt for shakes, baking and flavoring beverages. |
| Mustard oil | Pantry | 16-oz | Fortune, MDH (regional) | Strong-flavored cooking oil used in South Asian cuisine and pickling. |
| Masa harina | Pantry | 2.2 lb | Maseca, Bob’s Red Mill | Ground corn flour for tortillas, tamales and arepas. |
| Maraschino cherries | Pantry | 10-oz | Luxardo (premium), King | Sweet preserved cherries for cocktails, desserts and garnishes. |
| Munster | Dairy | 8-oz | Kraft, Boar’s Head | (Alternate spelling of Muenster) Mild melting cheese used in sandwiches and melts. |
| Muffin | Bakery | each | Local bakeries, Entenmann’s | Individual quick bread for breakfast or snacks; sold fresh or packaged. |
| Manuka honey | Pantry | 8-oz | Comvita, Wedderspoon | Distinctive honey from New Zealand known for robust flavor and specialty uses. |
| Mazola corn oil? (Note: included for common item names beginning with M) | Pantry | 48-oz | Mazola | Neutral cooking oil used for frying and baking. |