Crossword Genius

Snoop around a neat, but empty, food store (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pantry

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'store' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'snoop around a neat but empty food' is the wordplay.
'snoop' becomes 'pry' (I've seen this in another clue).
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'a neat but empty food' becomes 'ant' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'pry' enclosing 'ant' is 'PANTRY'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pantry that I've seen before include "Food store" , "Store cupboard" , "Small room or cupboard for storing food" , "Kitchen storeroom" , "Type of larder" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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