NYT Mini Crossword Answers – Saturday, February 7, 2026

NYT Mini Crossword Answers – Saturday, February 7, 2026

Need today’s NYT Mini Crossword answers for Saturday, February 7, 2026? We’ve got the full grid solutions, clue breakdowns, and tips to help you finish — especially on a longer Saturday grid with a few tricky Across clues.

Today’s puzzle was longer than usual (Saturday style), with some clever wordplay and a notable chef reference.

Puzzle date: Saturday, February 7, 2026
Editor: Joel Fagliano (standard Mini constructor)
Play free: nytimes.com/crosswords (Mini tab) or NYT Games app

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Full NYT Mini Crossword Answers – Feb 7, 2026

Across

• 1A. Lock lips → KISS
• 5A. Italian author of “Inferno,” “Purgatorio” and “Paradiso” → DANTE
  (Dante Alighieri – Divine Comedy author)
• 6A. Cerebral _ (part of the brain) → CORTEX
  (Cerebral cortex – outer layer of the brain)
• 7A. Leave home with a stuffed pillowcase as luggage, perhaps → RUNAWAY
  (Classic runaway image: kid with pillowcase on a stick)
• 8A. “No more for me, thanks” → IMGOOD
  (I’m good – casual refusal)
• 9A. Fancy fabrics → SILKS
• 10A. Leg joint → KNEE

Down

• 1D. Bars sung in a bar → KARAOKE
• 2D. How the animals boarded Noah’s Ark → INTWOS
  (In twos – two by two)
• 3D. Stand in good _ → STEAD
  (Stand in good stead – be useful/helpful)
• 4D. Smokin’ hot → SEXY
• 5D. Computer attachment → DONGLE
  (USB dongle – adapter or wireless receiver)
• 6D. Yotam Ottolenghi called it “the one spice I could never give up” → CUMIN
  (Chef Ottolenghi’s favorite spice)
• 7D. Hazard → RISK

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Why Today’s Mini Was Longer & Tricky

• Saturday size — Larger grid with more 5–7 letter words (RUNAWAY, KARAOKE, CORTEX).
• Wordplay highlights — “Stuffed pillowcase as luggage” = classic RUNAWAY visual.
• Chef reference — Ottolenghi + CUMIN is niche but fair (popular spice among foodies).
• Average time — Experienced solvers ~1:00–2:00 min; beginners 3–6 min (longer than weekday Minis).

Tip — Start with short 4-letter clues (KISS, KNEE, RISK) and use Down crossings to unlock longer Across words like RUNAWAY and KARAOKE.

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FAQ – NYT Mini Crossword February 7, 2026

Q: What are the answers to today’s NYT Mini Crossword (Feb 7, 2026)?
A: Across: KISS, DANTE, CORTEX, RUNAWAY, IMGOOD, SILKS, KNEE
Down: KARAOKE, INTWOS, STEAD, SEXY, DONGLE, CUMIN, RISK

Q: What does “Leave home with a stuffed pillowcase” mean?
A: RUNAWAY — classic image of a kid running away with belongings in a pillowcase on a stick.

Q: Why “CUMIN” for the Ottolenghi clue?
A: Yotam Ottolenghi (famous chef) has publicly called cumin his favorite spice he could never give up.

Q: Where can I play the NYT Mini Crossword?
A: Free on nytimes.com/crosswords or in the NYT Games app (no subscription required for Mini).

Q: How long should the Mini take?
A: Usually 30 sec–3 min — Saturday grids are longer so expect 1–5 min.

Q: Was today’s Mini harder or easier than usual?
A: A bit trickier — longer grid + some wordplay/niche clues made it more challenging than weekday Minis.

Q: Got any tips for solving the Mini faster?
A: Fill short words first, use crossings, watch for idioms/visual clues (pillowcase runaway), and remember chef/food references.

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Finished? Drop your time in the comments!
⏱️ Under 2 minutes? Legend. Struggled with RUNAWAY or CUMIN? Totally normal — Saturday grids hit harder!

Come back daily for fresh NYT Mini Crossword hints, answers, and breakdowns. Happy solving! 🧩