Abstract:With the rapid development of agricultural product processing industry in China，a large number of processing by-products fail to be effectively used，resulting in great environmental pollution and resource waste.Steam explosion is a new green treatment technology，which can improve the nutritional value and functional activity of raw materials.In this paper，the principle of steam explosion，the influencing factors of treatment effect，and its different effects on increasing the quality and efficiency of the by-products of animal- and plant-based agricultural products were reviewed，with a view to guiding the development and utilization of the by-products of agricultural products and realizing the maximum benefit.