Device for portioning and compacting foods

In a chamber (3), portioned foods are compacted by a side wall of the chamber (3) being designed displaceably in such a manner that it can be transferred from a position defining a maximum volume of the chamber (3) into a position defining the minimum volume of the chamber (3). The position defining the maximum volume of the chamber (3) of the side wall, which is formed from a flap (4) or a prepressing ram (4'), is steplessly adjustable in a defined range by a locking member (5) which limits the pivoting movement of the flap (4), or an adjustment screw (5') which limits the starting position of the prepressing ram (4'). As a result, it is possible to produce portions with a different degree of compaction for a subsequent cutting process. Before the compaction process starts, the cutting member (1), which is essentially driven in the same direction as the flap (4) or the prepressing ram (4'), is transferred into a position blocking the filling cross-section of the chamber (3) so that no material can escape from the chamber (3) as a result of the compaction process.