Use up leftover greens to create this hearty soup. (Photo by Mike Garten)

Last year, Americans threw out 133 billion pounds of food (the equivalent of leaving a quarter of your groceries behind every time you go to the store). Join us in our quest to #savethefood.

1. Soup-er Size It

There’s nothing like a hot bowl of soup to keep you cozy. And if you’ve got produce on the verge of going bad, there’s no better way to use it than in a big batch of soup – when the veggies are cooked, you won’t notice that they were past their prime. Test Kitchen tip: Freeze soup for two to three months.

2. Roast for the most

Next time you’re staring at a refrigerator bin full of sad veggies, grab a baking sheet and put them in the oven. They’ll come out caramelized and tastier than you can imagine. Add a protein, like salmon or drumsticks, to make it a meal!

3. Don’t Fall for Bulk

It’s tempting to get two cartons of berries when they’re on sale, but what value is that if you end up throwing one out? Instead, stock up on items that can be safely stored for the long haul. Think seafood, nuts and seeds, which can last up to a year in the freezer, or eggs and some dairy that can live in the fridge for three weeks or so. Crackers, cereals and dried beans will stay fresh if they’re stored in a cool, dry pantry and not exposed to sunlight.

4. Toss Together a Salad

Forgot about that head of lettuce at the bottom of your fridge? Revive most greens – iceberg lettuce, arugula, kale and even herbs – by soaking them in an ice bath for five minutes. Spin or pat dry, and they’ll be as good as new! Turn them into a satisfying supper with a cooked protein like rotisserie chicken or salami, roasted veggies and a sprinkle of crunchies like broken pita chips or wasabi peas.

5. Revive Stale Bread

For instant homemade croutons:

Cube and bake bread in a 400 F oven on a baking sheet until dry and crisp (about 10 minutes).

6. Make Pesto

Don’t toss carrot tops, radish leaves or beet greens! Instead, try this easy pesto:

1. In a food processor, combine 2 cups rinsed carrot tops (tough stems removed), 1/2 cup basil, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, 1/3 cup toasted almonds, 1 small clove garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Pulse to finely chop. Drizzle in 3/4 cup olive oil. Serve over cooked noodles or as a tasty dip!

7. Shake Up Homemade Dressing

When you’ve got a nearly finished jar of jam, mayo, nut butter or mustard, maximize every drop: Add olive oil, vinegar, spices and herbs; cover; and shake. Instant vinaigrette!

8. Polish off the chips

Turn bottom-of-the-bag tortilla or potato chips into bread crumbs: Pulse in a food processor or blender for a satisfying crunch.

9. Bake a One-Dish Wonder

No more juggling pots and pans: Consider the casserole your ultimate fridge-and-pantry clean-out meal. Throw in whatever you’ve got – veggies, meat, eggs, cheese and even tortilla chips are all fair game. One and done!

ON ANOTHER MATTER … 

Your Bookshelf: Good Reads 

Be prepared to stay up late with one (or all!) of these page-turners. 

Thought-Provoking 

“Small Great Things” by Jodi Picoult: A perennial on the bestseller list, author Jodi Picoult tackles racism in this story of a black nurse accused of harming a white infant. A compelling, can’t-put-it-down drama with a trademark Picoult twist.

For Parenting Pointers  

“Mamaleh Knows Best” by Marjorie Ingall: In this entertaining mash-up of memoir and research, Marjorie Ingall deftly (and humorously) dissects the truth from the stereotype of the Jewish mother and offers wise life lessons we can all use.

Book Club Pick  

“Today Will Be Different” by Maria Semple: Maria Semple’s follow-up to her best-selling “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” is a fantastic fable of a woman’s efforts to fix her messy life in one day. Of course, it all goes hilariously wrong.

TABLE 

Show Your Leftovers Some Love 

Airtight storage is key. Here are the GH Appliances Lab’s top-tested picks: 

Coolest containers: In our testing, label claims of “airtight” rarely held true. But Snapware Total Solution Glass ($4 to $30) and Plastic ($3 to $25) topped our tests. Both lines are freezer-, microwave- and top-rack dishwasher-safe.

Stellar sealer: Removing air from around food helps keep it fresh. The new FoodSaver FM5000 Series Food Preservation System ($200) comes with a roll of bags and a built-in bag-roll cutter. Great at sucking out air, it easily creates small packs of bulk items like nuts, grains, hard cheese, chicken breasts and burgers.

Recalls Alert 

The following products and vehicles were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Unless otherwise indicated, discontinue use of the products immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information about the products, call the manufacturer or CPSC’s toll-free hotline, 800-638-2772. Only some cars or trucks recalled are affected. Contact a dealer for your model to see if it is included in the recall. The dealer will tell you what to do.

PRODUCT/VEHICLE 

PROBLEM 

Sargent arts and crafts tempera and finger paints, sold at Hobby Lobby, Walmart and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com and ShopSargentArt.com from May 2015 to June 2016 for between $1 and $8.

The paint can contain harmful bacteria. Exposure to certain bacteria can have adverse health effects in immunocompromised individuals, posing a risk of serious illness, which includes a bacterial infection. Consumers with healthy immune systems generally are not affected by the bacteria. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled paints and contact Sargent Art for a full refund. Contact Sargent Art at (800) 827-8081 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET and Monday through Friday, or online at www.sargentart.com. Click on “Recall” for more information.

Hyundai 2015 Genesis 

The affected vehicles are equipped with a TFT-LCD instrument cluster that may read incorrect speed or loss messages, and warning lights of one or more safety related symptoms. These symptoms can include warning lights illuminating, incorrect speedometer reading, turn signal not illuminating and possible instrument cluster becoming momentarily inoperative. If the instrument cluster reads incorrectly or becomes inoperative, it can cause the driver to not be aware of safety related issues, increasing the risk of a crash. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software updated for free. The recall is expected to begin on Sept. 30, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 800-633-5151. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 147.