| 100% | LARD | 4 | 59 Across alternative removed from this grid's shaded squares to create desserts |
| 37% | SHORTENING | 10 | Baking ingredient... or the key to transforming this grid's shaded squares into desserts? |
| 26% | CLARINET | 8 | With 59-Across, hint to this puzzle's secret |
| 25% | HANSELANDGRETEL | 15 | Story mapped out in this grid, from lower left to upper right |
| 24% | ADROPINTHEOCEAN | 15 | Insignificant amount ... or hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 24% | PARASOL | 7 | Old-timey ladies used this to shade from the sun |
| 23% | MEETINTHEMIDDLE | 15 | Compromise ... or a phonetic hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 23% | TALLORDER | 9 | Big ask ... or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 23% | CARBONOFFSETS | 13 | They fund projects that remove a gas from the atmosphere, which is a hint to what's happening in four Across answers |
| 23% | IRON | 4 | With 59 Across, what's attached to some benches |
| 23% | EARTHRISE | 9 | Phenomenon witnessed from space … or a hint to this puzzle's sequence of shaded squares |
| 23% | FUELUP | 6 | Go from empty to full, and a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 23% | TOYBOXES | 8 | Places for playthings, with a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 23% | STAFF | 5 | Locale for this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 22% | USS | 3 | Inits. for this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 22% | SPOONBENDING | 12 | Display of mentalism ... or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 22% | MANSCAPE | 8 | To remove hair from man's body for cosmetic effect |
| 22% | DELES | 5 | Removes from copy, to an editor |
| 21% | DECELERATE | 10 | It's important to do this when returning from ISS |
| 21% | SUNVISOR | 8 | Panel to shade a vehicle driver's eyes from glare |
| 21% | PERGOLA | 7 | Garden lattice structure to create shade |
| 21% | TICKALLTHEBOXES | 15 | Be fully qualified ... or a hint to interpreting this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 21% | VEGANSCRAMBLE | 13 | Alternative to 39 Across |
| 21% | DEREGULATE | 10 | To remove controls from |
| 21% | BYGONES | 7 | Apt word spelled from this puzzle's "covered" letters, top to bottom |
| 21% | PAY | 3 | It's illegal for employers to prohibit workers from discussing this |
| 21% | RICE | 4 | Houston school that's been removed from 78 Across |
| 21% | MIT | 3 | Cambridge sch. that's been removed from 43 Across |
| 21% | EMORY | 5 | Atlanta school that's been removed from 67 Across |
| 21% | SMITH | 5 | Northampton school that's been removed from 22 Across |