Quick Answer
Clue: “Cook in oil”
Answer: FRY
Answer length: 3 letters
Clue number and direction: 5-Down
The New York Times crossword clue “Cook in oil” is answered with FRY, filling the short 5-Down slot in the grid.
Why FRY Is the Right NYT Answer
- To fry something is to cook it in hot oil or fat, which matches the clue “Cook in oil” exactly, with no wordplay needed. NYT Mini answer listings and multiple crossword-help sites confirm FRY as the 3-letter solution used on January 27, 2026.
- Other cooking verbs like “saute” or “sear” are longer or do not specifically require oil in the same way, so FRY is the tightest and most precise match to both meaning and length.
What FRY Means in Plain English
- To fry is to cook food in hot oil or fat, either by pan-frying in a shallow layer of oil or deep-frying with the food fully submerged.
- Frying typically produces a browned or crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender, which is why it is used for foods like fries, chicken, and many snacks.
- In casual speech and recipes, “fry” is the default verb when you’re told to cook something in oil on the stovetop.
Crossword-Specific Help for FRY
- In the grid, FRY appears as F R Y, and with crossings from across clues you might first see patterns like F_Y or _RY in a 3-letter slot.
- For this Mini, 5-Down intersects across entries SCARF, HUMOR, IMPLY, NILE, and ENE, which give you the F, R, and Y needed to confirm the entry.
- FRY is a classic short crossword answer that appears under many related clues: “Cook in oil,” “Pan-cook,” “Deep-____,” or “Cook bacon, say.”
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When you see “Cook in oil,” “Cook in a pan,” “Cook in hot fat,” or “Deep-___,” FRY is often the intended 3-letter answer.
- Use crossings: if you already have F from one across and Y from another in a cooking context, FRY is usually the best fit.
Remember FRY as part of a common cooking mini-set: FRY, SAUTÉ, SEAR, BOIL, ROAST; for oil-based clues in short slots, FRY is the standard.
