| 100% | SHORTENING | 10 | Baking ingredient... or the key to transforming this grid's shaded squares into desserts? |
| 41% | LARD | 4 | 59 Across alternative removed from this grid's shaded squares to create desserts |
| 37% | RAT | 3 | Chinese calendar animal ... or the key to this puzzle's theme |
| 32% | SCOOPEDUP | 9 | Eagerly obtained ... or a hint to the contents of this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 31% | TICKALLTHEBOXES | 15 | Be fully qualified ... or a hint to interpreting this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 31% | TVSPOTS | 7 | Many P.S.A.s ... or the four circled squares in this grid? |
| 31% | GETCRACKING | 11 | Hop to it ... or what to do to the various eggs in this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 30% | ADROPINTHEOCEAN | 15 | Insignificant amount ... or hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 30% | DAILYPLANET | 11 | Publication that is the key to this puzzle's theme |
| 30% | CLASS | 5 | Plane seating division (and the key to this puzzle's theme) |
| 29% | ITSTHEBERRIES | 13 | Old expression of admiration (and the key to this puzzle's theme) |
| 29% | OHTHEHORROR | 11 | Cry of dread ... and a hint to how to transform this grid's circled squares? |
| 29% | TNUT | 4 | Hardware fastener ... or a literal hint to the circled squares in this puzzle |
| 29% | MEETINTHEMIDDLE | 15 | Compromise ... or a phonetic hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 29% | TALLORDER | 9 | Big ask ... or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 29% | TEALEAVES | 9 | Divination aids … or a phonetic hint to the shaded squares in this puzzle |
| 28% | MTEREBUS | 8 | Southernmost active volcano in the world ... or a cryptic hint to certain squares in this puzzle |
| 28% | SPOONBENDING | 12 | Display of mentalism ... or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 28% | TURNABOUT | 9 | Fair play? ... or the key to understanding the answers to starred clues |
| 27% | YEAST | 5 | Baking ingredient to raise the dough |
| 27% | REPRONUNCIATION | 15 | Key to understanding the theme of this puzzle |
| 26% | GREEKCROSS | 10 | Religious symbol resembling a plus sign ... or a hint to the three groups of shaded squares in this puzzle |
| 26% | MILKSHAKES | 10 | Diner treats ... or a hint to what's happening to the words in the circled squares in this puzzle? |
| 26% | EARTHRISE | 9 | Phenomenon witnessed from space … or a hint to this puzzle's sequence of shaded squares |
| 26% | ANIFORANEYE | 11 | Misinterpretation of a biblical code ... or the key to answering 18-, 24-, 40- and 51-Across |
| 26% | FORMATION | 9 | Following the nine black squares in the center of the grid, a hint to five pairs of answers in this puzzle |
| 26% | BOWL | 4 | (4/5) "After this, let us put this mixture into a ___, continuing to stir until all the ingredients are well combined" |
| 26% | ESCAPEACT | 9 | Houdini’s signature feat … or a hint to the circled squares in this puzzle |
| 26% | WAITING | 7 | On hold ... or what the seven rows of black squares in this puzzle's grid spell in Morse code |
| 25% | AVOCADO | 7 | This fruit is the key to guacamole |