Issue #681 Tue 13 Jan
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — January 13, 2026
A cool breeze blows through the kitchen aisles today. The grid demands a steady hand and a bit of patience to navigate the shelves.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
You open the heavy door, a plume of cold air escapes, and the frost lines the silver racks.
Grocery store inventory
ITEMS KEPT AT SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES
Spangram 4 hints · 10 letters
The connector word
Two-word compound noun
10 letters.
Starts with F, ends with D.
FROZENFOOD
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 P (5 letters)
- 2 P (9 letters)
- 3 S (7 letters)
- 4 V (10 letters)
- 5 W (7 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 PI (5 letters)
- 2 PO (9 letters)
- 3 SH (7 letters)
- 4 VE (10 letters)
- 5 WA (7 letters)
Theme word 1 of 5 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
A quick meal that arrives in a square box and waits for the oven timer to ding.
5 letters.
Starts with P.
Starts with PI.
PIZZA
Theme word 2 of 5 5 hints · 9 letters
A theme word
Sticky, colorful treats on a wooden stick that melt much faster than you can finish them.
9 letters.
Starts with P.
Starts with PO.
POPSICLES
Theme word 3 of 5 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
A smooth, chilled dessert that sits between a sorbet and ice cream in the dairy aisle.
7 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SH.
SHERBET
Theme word 4 of 5 5 hints · 10 letters
A theme word
The bag you pull from the bottom drawer, pre-cut and ready for a hot pan.
10 letters.
Starts with V.
Starts with VE.
VEGETABLES
Theme word 5 of 5 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
Grid-patterned breakfast cakes that crisp up perfectly after a few minutes in the toaster.
7 letters.
Starts with W.
Starts with WA.
WAFFLES
Spoiler zone
Complete Strands answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
Reveal the spangram
Reveal all theme words
- PIZZA
- POPSICLES
- SHERBET
- VEGETABLES
- WAFFLES
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on January 13, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for January 13, 2026, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on January 13, 2026?
NYT Strands on January 13, 2026 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 5 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the January 13, 2026 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 10 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "F" — the hints above ease you toward the rest one step at a time, without spelling it out.
What is the theme of NYT Strands on January 13, 2026?
We keep the theme under wraps here so nothing is spoiled — but the ladder above walks you into it, starting with the puzzle's overall vibe. Want it stated outright, with the spangram and all 5 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 5 theme words · 10-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 5 theme words · 10-letter spangram