Methods of operating an extrusion apparatus are provided for extruding ceramic or ceramic-forming material. The extrusion apparatus includes an extrusion die mounted with respect to a barrel. At least one screw is rotatably mounted within the barrel, and a feeder is configured to introduce a batch material to the screw. Example methods can adjust at least one of a rotational rate of the screw to an initial rotational rate or a feed rate of the feeder to an initial feed rate when based on a changed operating condition and/or when the batch material reaches the extrusion die. At least one of the rotational rate of the screw or the feed rate of the feeder can then be increased during a transient state until a steady state is reached.