A finite element based method was developed to simulate hygrostress multiple crack formation and propagation in a cylindrical, elastoplastic food undergoing a simultaneous heat and moisture transfer process. Heat and moisture transfer was simulated using a model developed previously in the authors’ laboratory, and hygrostress formation using a virtual work principle-based, incremental method. Criteria of critical, normal tensile stress and of crack-tip-opening angle were used to simulate hygrostress crack formation and propagation, respectively. The developed method was validated experimentally. Simulation results show temperature and moisture distributions were perturbed by multiple hygrostress crack formation and propagation.