A method of extruding a ceramic batch supplied from a vacuum auger machine into a formed body by a plunger molding machine, included the steps of loosening and crushing a supplied ceramic batch in the vacuum auger machine, extruding the loosened and crushed ceramic batch from the vacuum auger machine into a formed columnar body which is of a size able to be inserted into a cylinder of the plunger molding machine, and extruding the formed columnar body from the plunger molding machine to form a formed body of a predetermined shape. An apparatus for extruding a ceramic batch includes a vacuum auger machine having of a vacuum kneading section for kneading a ceramic material to produce a ceramic batch, a columnar body forming section for forming the kneaded ceramic material into a columnar body, and a batch transfer section having an auger for transferring the ceramic batch to the columnar body forming section. The apparatus further includes a grid drum having a grid provided on an exit side of the batch transfer section for loosening and crushing the ceramic batch kneaded in the vacuum kneading section before transferring the ceramic batch into the columnar body forming section.