It’s important to have an organized pantry for two reasons.

• If it’s easy to see what you have, you know what you need, and can make a list.

• If your pantry is a mess, you’ll order Chinese food.

So what should you do? Real Simple has 5 steps to pantry bliss. They are:

•Sort it. Take everything out and sort it.

•Prioritize it. Put stuff you never use on the top shelf.

•Contain it. Don’t hide crap inside your mixing bowls. Get containers.

•Stand it up. Store baking sheets and what not vertically.

•Light it up. Make sure there’s ample lighting.

Great, now that we’ve done that, are sugar cubes from 1967 ok to use? And whose cat is this?—MEGHANN MARCO

The Organized Pantry [Real Simple]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.