the food skewering machine includes a base and a food holding tray that is removably installed within the base . the tray includes two portions that are hingedly attached together . each portion of the tray includes a series of receptacles for holding meat or other foods to be skewered when the two hinged portions are closed . a skewer driver can travel back and forth along the length of the base to drive or push skewers into the tray , thereby skewering the contents of the receptacles within the tray . the food holding receptacles within the tray may include any practicable number and are arranged in rows to provide for the simultaneous skewering of food using multiple skewers . each row has a plurality of receptacles therein to allow each skewer to impale a plurality of food elements during a single skewering operation .