The moisture transfer mechanism by diffusion and uptake of frying oil was studied during deep fat frying of papads with an initial moisture content (IMC) 24.8% dry basis (db). The experimental data were found to fit well to a first order exponential model for moisture transfer (with a regression coefficient 0.99). The apparent moisture diffusivity of papad in the frying time range of 0–20 s at temperatures of 165, 175, 180 and 185 ± 1 °C were 2.83, 3.65, 3.87 and 5.03 · 10