Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #279) – hint #1 – today’s theme

NYT Strands today (game #279) – hint #2 – clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• STOP
• STAMP
• HEAT
• MATCH
• CHOP
• TOAST

NYT Strands today (game #279) – hint #3 – spangram

NYT Strands today (game #279) – hint #4 – spangram position

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #279) – the answers

The answers to today’s Strands, game #279, are…

• FRIED
• BAKED
• MASHED
• ROASTED
• FONDANT
• SCALLOPED
• SPANGRAM: HOT POTATO

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Having spent far too long watching The Walking Dead, zombies – or “walkers” – was my first thought about today’s clue “Prepare to be eaten”. I used to love that show, but then it turned into a zombie itself and self-replicated into other weaker versions of itself. Then those weaker versions self-replicated into even weaker more boring versions, so you could hardly recognize the old Walking Dead anymore.

Anyway, I digress because today’s Strands was actually about the greatest vegetable of them all – the beloved HOT POTATO – and some of the multiple ways in which it can be cooked. My favorite is smashed potatoes – boiled whole, then squished, then drizzled, then BAKED – it works, my friends.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Friday, 6 December, game #278)

• CLUB
• BUNCH
• GROUP
• CROWD
• CIRCLE
• CLIQUE
• SOCIETY
• SPANGRAM: FELLOWSHIP