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Word for tense backwards describing generic food items as in penultimate word.

Interesting question Bagheera33,
I use Google in the same way I might use the Encyclopaedia Britannica (if I had one) mainly to fill in my bad GK. I definitely don’t use the sites that just give the solution. Word finders like OneLook, yes sometimes, when all else fails and you need a shortlist of words that might fit. Curious how others approach this

Hi Bagheera33 , I don't think there is a right or wrong approach. At the end of the day it's supposed to be a bit of fun
A beginner will need more help, whereas an expert might be more determined to do without.
I personally do the following:
Phase 1 answer as many clues as possible without any help, except spelling as mine is terrible. Making sure I try every clue before looking for any help
Phase 2 Google specific GK where I have an idea of an answer
Phase 3 look at this forum for hints
Phase 4 post to this forum for hints

Very enjoyable this morning.
FOI 4d, that's me!
I had no problem with the cockney rhyming slang as it's one of the few I know.
It took me a while to get 19a as radio made me look for a homophone.
Looking for a rhyming pair helped me with 7d.
26a made me chuckle although wear rather than equipment would have been better.
Too many excellent clues to choose a COD but probably WCOD were 1d and 17a.
I used Google to check a couple of references. It adds to my GK if i can retain it!
Thanks for the fun Everyman.

Hello. Interesting puzzle and I got 8d by looking for - and finding - a rhyming pair. Anyway. Thanks to those who explained the Cockney rhyming slang — not one I knew — but eventually got the clever answer once I’d solved 5d. Thanks Everyman, thanks all!

A very interesting question Bagheera33.
Warden has about summarised my approach: my main use of Wikipedia or online dictionaries is to check an answer I've deduced from wordplay - eg 6a in yesterday's Guardian prize - or double check a reference such as my (& possibly Everyman's) faulty memory of the subtitle of 5d's masterpiece. Occasionally I need to go online to explain a word in the clue, but my first assumption about a word or reference I don't get at all is that is part of wordplay rather than a gap in my general knowledge - eg 'Pale Fire' in yesterday's 10a.
I am forced to solution finders (like the one on this site) and anagram solvers (ditto) more often than i really comfortable with, so I try to make them a last resort.

I am obviously missing something. Despite earlier mentions in this forum i cannot see the parsing for 13d or 26a. Any further pointers woul be appreciated.

13d I thought was very complicated. It's "pubs" around "Everyman's" (belonging to me) and "drained (emptied) Soave".
26 the first word is often used as an abbreviation for a breed of dog!

Thanks Chrise, it all makes sense now. I had been mistakenly grappling with an anagram of coal in 26a !