The invention discloses an insertion type food tray separating machine. The insertion type food tray separating machine comprises a rack, wherein a material storage channel and a conveyer belt are arranged on the rack; the material storage channel is positioned right above the conveyer belt; a separation mechanism is arranged between the material storage channel and the conveyer belt; the separation mechanism comprises insertion rods; the insertion rods comprise front parts and back parts; the thickness of the front parts is smaller than the thickness of the back parts; bevel transition sections are arranged between the front parts and the back parts; notches are formed in the inner sides of the bevel transition sections; and the notches extend from the bevel transition sections to the back parts. According to the insertion type food tray separating machine, packaging trays are innovatively separated in an insertion manner, the insertion rods are inserted into clearances between the two packaging trays, the two packaging trays are separated through the thickness change of the insertion rods, and the separated packaging trays directly fall onto the conveyer belt and are sent to the next procedure; and the integral structure is simple, and tray separation is reliable.