PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of producing a ball-shaped food product and an apparatus therefor with which a ball-shaped food product, such as Takoyaki ball, molded into a ball shape having good appearance, is efficiently produced.SOLUTION: The method of producing a ball-shaped food product includes: a batter filling step for filling a food material in an opening mold having a recessed portion of substantially U-shaped cross-section a grilling step for heating the mold from below and forming a half-grilled food and a rolling step for reversing the food in the mold while heating the mold from below, lowering a pressing member having a curved recessed portion into the mold, and pressing the food at the recessed portion to roll the food into a ball shape. In the rolling step, a direction adjusting step is performed to reverse the food in the mold, stick a direction adjusting member in the food in a manner to be moved, and change the direction of the food in the mold, and then the rolling step is performed.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】見映えがよい球状に成型された、たこ焼きなどの球形食品を効率よく製造可能な球状食品製造方法及びその装置の提供。【解決手段】断面略U形の凹所を有する開放焼型に、食品原料を充填する生地充填工程と、次いで前記開放焼型を下方から加熱して半焼け状態の食品を形成する焼成工程と、次いで前記開放焼型を下方から加熱しつつ、前記開放焼型内の食品を反転させるとともに前記開放焼型内に曲面状の凹部を有する押圧部材を降下させて該凹部で食品を押圧して該食品を球状に丸める丸め工程とを有する球状食品製造方法において、前記丸め工程は、前記開放焼型内の食品を反転させた後、該食品に方向調整部材を刺し込んで該部材を動かすことによって前記開放焼型内の食品の方向を変える方向調整工程を行い、続いて前記丸め工程を実施することを特徴とする球状食品製造方法。【選択図】図1
