Methods for prepressing lignocellulose-containing fibrous material are disclosed including forming a lignocellulose-containing fibrous material into a web, initially compressing the web and permitting expansion of the web, recompressing the web in an entry section of a prepress to a density proximating that of the density of the initially pressed web, permitting the recompressed web to undergo controlled expansion in an expansion section of the prepress, injecting steam into the web within either the entry or expansion sections of the prepress, and transferring the expanded web into a finishing press.