Abstract: An automatic mold opening and food product extracting apparatus. The apparatus includes a first conveyor for moving a food mold with a food product therein from a staging gate to a delatcher and further to a time-delay gate. The staging gate controls movement of the molds and food products therein into the delatcher. The delatcher engages the mold such that the first and second portions are unlatched. A second conveyor is disposed above a portion of the first conveyor. The time-delay gate controls movement of the molds toward the second conveyor. Gripping pads on the second conveyor grippingly engage the second portion of the mold so that the second portion is raised above the first portion and the food product originally in the mold. The separation may be provided by gravity or by a lid puller device when proper separation does not occur.