What's the first step to cooking like an Iron Chef? Nope, not a fancy culinary degree or years of experience toiling in the kitchens of famous French chefs. We're starting with the basics. According to Iron Chef Michael Symon himself—and host of Cooking Channel's new series Cook Like an Iron Chef— the ingredients you keep in the pantry are key.

In our web-exclusive video straight from the Cook Like An Iron Chef kitchen, Michael lets you in on some secrets of how to stock your pantry like a pro. With his go-to ingredients on hand, you’ll be Kitchen Stadium-ready in no time.