Abstract: Automatic food dispensing apparatus comprises a hopper (4), a rotatable cylinder (12) having a recess for receiving and dispensing a predetermined amount of food to a food container (40) in the form of a perforated metal rectangular container, the container being movable between a rest position, a first portion in which the container is disposed in a food cooker (26) for cooking the food dispensed in the container, and a second position in which the container (4) is held above a food dispenser (76) so that the food in the container is dispensed to a cup (76). The container (40) has a pivotable base (44) and spring clips (50) along one side which hold the base (44) in place. In the first position in the cooker (26), a spring metal strip holds the base in place and defines the lower limit of movement of the base. In the second position in the cooker, the clips (5) engage a metal bar (92) for releasing the clips and the base (44).