Abstract: A method of producing a cracker from a raw material such as grain such as unhulled rice, or artificial rice, composite raw material formed in a chip-shape, or the like is disclosed. It comprises steps of compressing and heating for a predetermined time the raw material already processed to some extent to advance and contained within a hermetically closed chamber defined in upper and lower baking molds heated, moving instantaneously the upper mold finely up and down to spread the raw material on a bottom surface of the lower baking mold, and in the foregoing state, compressing and heating the raw material again, and expanding instantaneously the compressed and heated raw material at a time when the upper baking mold starts moving upwardly to remove the compression, thereby shaping the material in a cracker of a desired form in a self-sustaining structure. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a method of producing a cracker from a raw material such as rice or the like comprises steps of compressing and heating for a predetermined time the raw material contained within a hermetically closed chamber defind in upper and lower baking molds, expanding instantaneously the compressed and heated raw material by opening the baking molds and concurrently discharging steam produced within the chamber during the compression under heating, and compressing again the expanded material by means of the baking molds thereby shaping the material in a cracker of a desired form in a self-sustaining structure.