Abstract: An agitator assembly for use in conventional food and beverage processing vats. The agitator assembly generally includes a shaft and a retractable blade assembly secured to a second end of the shaft. A first end of the shaft is securable to the agitator drive. The retractable blade assembly includes a lifting collar and an agitator shaft which cooperate such that the blades of the retractable blade assembly are retractable and extendable With the blades of the retractable blade assembly in a retracted position, the assembly can pass through the opening in the top of a conventional mixing vat cover. Moreover, the shaft is separable via a quick release split coupling such that once the first end of the shaft is secured to the agitator shaft it does not have to be disconnected to remove the remaining portion of the agitator assembly from the vat.