Crossword Genius

Food item's in middle of oven, within reach (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

vegetable

'food item's' is the definition.
(vegetables can be eaten)

'middle of oven within reach' is the wordplay.
'middle of' indicates the central letters.
'within reach' becomes 'getable' (that which can be got).
The middle letters of 'oven' are 've'.
've'+'getable'='VEGETABLE'

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for vegetable that I've seen before include "Squash for one" , "Edible seed, root, stem, leaf or bulb" , "Edible root or leaf, say" , "Food plant" , "Such as 11 ac" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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