Cripes! It's ready to eat inside (4)
I believe the answer is:
ripe
'inside' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'cripes it's ready to eat' is the wordplay.
'to eat' indicates a hidden word (I've seen 'eaten' mean this).
'RIPE' can be found hidden inside 'cripes ready'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ripe that I've seen before include "Pier (anag.)" , "green? No!" , "Ready (to be eaten or used)" , "Strong-smelling" , "Opportune" .)