| 100% | BELL | 4 | ___ pepper, popular Capsicum species added to dishes like pizza and fajita, that is packed with 94% water |
| 30% | PEARS | 5 | Popular poached fruits which are used to make tarts, and are packed with 84% water |
| 26% | DEEP | 4 | ___ Purple, a band considered to be among the pioneers of metal and hard rock with hits like "Smoke on the Water" |
| 26% | TUNA | 4 | A fish that is popular with Salads and melts |
| 25% | TENPINBOWLING | 13 | Popular sport played with a ball that has three holes and whose history has been traced back to the Egyptians living in 3200 BCE: 3 wds. |
| 25% | TEAK | 4 | Wood that is used to build ships and furniture (rhymes with "weak) |
| 25% | CELERY | 6 | Popular stalk which is the main ingredient in the dish ants on a log, and is packed with 95% water |
| 25% | HOTSAUCE | 8 | Condiment that adds spice and heat to any dish |
| 24% | PEPPER | 6 | Capsicum that adds heat to dishes |
| 24% | NATURALGAS | 10 | Resource that is actually virtually odorless and hence, has an odorant added to aid detection |
| 24% | SUGAR | 5 | With 44d, sweetener that is added to coffee |
| 24% | GOULASH | 7 | American ___, popular dish with pasta that is also known as slumgullion, made using beef and tomatoes |
| 24% | ANZAC | 5 | ___ biscuit, sweet biscuit that is popular in Australia and New Zealand with desiccated coconut as an ingredient |
| 24% | SEA | 3 | With 13-Down, water dweller that looks like a plant but is actually an animal |
| 23% | DUMMY | 5 | American invention that looks like a mannequin and is central to crash tests |
| 23% | HYPHEN | 6 | English language punctuation that looks like - and is used to connect compound words |
| 23% | PEACH | 5 | Popular stone fruit which is the main ingredient in cobbler, and is packed with 88% water |
| 23% | SALT | 4 | Seasoning that might be added to pasta water |
| 23% | TURKEY | 6 | Popular dish served during Thanksgiving which is generally stuffed with a bread-based mixture and then roasted |
| 23% | BED | 3 | Place with pillows and blankets that is hard to leave in the morning |
| 23% | CREAM | 5 | With 20a, ingredient that is often added to coffee to lighten it |
| 23% | DEADEND | 7 | Like jobs with no future ... and what the start of each answer to a starred clue can be? |
| 23% | HENBIT | 6 | Common and widely distributed weed of the Lamium species that tastes a bit like peppered celery |
| 23% | DULCE | 5 | ___ de leche, popular ice cream flavor that originated in Latin America and is similar to caramel |
| 22% | GARLICLOAVES | 12 | "Would you like to start with an appetizer? Our breads are especially popular for their aromatic spice ..." |
| 22% | PURSE | 5 | Chainmail ___, iconic statement piece that defined the '60s and was perfect to bedazzle the dance floor with |
| 22% | CLIMBING | 8 | Sport ___, sport that will debut in the 2020 Olympics and requires contestants to ascend a steep wall with their hands and feet |
| 22% | IRON | 4 | ___ Maiden, a hugely popular metal band with hits like "Fear of the Dark" and "Hallowed Be Thy Name" |
| 22% | ANTEATER | 8 | Toothless termite hunter with a long nose and a tongue that can be up to 2-feet long |
| 21% | IMNOTADOCTOR | 12 | With 40- and 48-Across, much-mocked ad phrase that could have been said by the answers to the four starred clues |