An apparatus 2 for the manufacture of snack foods, the apparatus comprising a conveyor 4 having an upstream end and a downstream end, a flat bed microwave apparatus 10 for cooking products conveyed through the microwave apparatus by the conveyor, the microwave apparatus having a number of independent microwave zones 18,20,22,24 between the upstream and downstream ends of the microwave apparatus, the microwave zones comprising a first preheating zone located towards the upstream end of the microwave apparatus, at least one second explosive dehydration zone located downstream of the first preheating zone, and a third moisture levelling zone located downstream of the at least one second cooking zone, wherein the microwave apparatus is adapted respectively to provide first, second and third microwave power values to the respective first, second and third zones, the first microwave power value being lower than the second microwave power value.
