Abstract: A food processing vat used to make cheese comprising a covered heated vessel that includes a pair of partially cylindrical intersecting portions forming a chamber having a figure-8 configuration and an improved means for cutting and agitating the food product received in the vat. The means for cutting and agitating comprises a plurality of curved vertically extending blades which are rigidly mounted on a frame which rotates within each cylindrical portion of the vat. The frames are secured to rotatable central shafts disposed centrally within each of the cylindrical portions, and the shafts and frames are rotated simultaneously and in such a pattern that curds and whey formed in the vat are completely stirred and uniformly agitated.