Shelled open, container for nut (5)
I believe the answer is:
pecan
'nut' is the definition.
(pecan is a kind of nut)
'shelled open container' is the wordplay.
'shelled' means to look at the middle letters (the outer letters or shell are removed).
'container' becomes 'can' (can is a kind of container**).
The centre of 'open' is 'pe'.
'pe'+'can'='PECAN'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for pecan that I've seen before include "US nut tree" , "Pinkish-brown nut used in American pie" , "Something like a walnut" , "Type of nut" , "Smooth pinkish-brown nut, nice in pie" .)