Abstract: A foodstuff coated with batter and then with fresh root vegetables which are coated with a predusting flour provides a pre-fried frozen food product having coating particles which do not stick together and agglomerate and a fat content which is lower than pre-fried foodstuffs prepared with conventional breading materials.

Abstract: Automatic cutting of pieces of material for obtaining a cut portion having a predetermined weight is performed by an apparatus and process in which the pieces to be cut are first weighed and then cut to obtain a portion having a predetermined weight. The pieces to be cut are transported on adjacent parallel conveyors adapted to travel in the same direction at substantially the same speed, a portion of each piece being transported on each conveyor. At least one of the conveyors includes at least one load-bearing platform, each load-bearing platform being associated with a weighing machine for performing, at least once, weighing of at least a portion of each piece to be cut at least once.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a foodstuff with particulate coating material includes conveyors and means for applying the particulate material. A first conveyor has a horizontal upper run and a second conveyor has an upper run which includes an inclined portion positioned beneath the first conveyor which extends upwards towards the leading edge of the first conveyor and terminates in a horizontal upper run portion which extends to the leading edge of the second conveyor. Means are provided for applying particulate material onto another portion of the second conveyor prior to the inclined portion. The first conveyor transports pieces of a foodstuff to be coated to its leading edge whereat the foodstuff is deposited upon particulate material transported on the second conveyor, the pieces of foodstuff and particulate material then being further transported on the horizontal portion of the second conveyor to a position whereat means are provided for applying particulate material onto the foodstuff.

Abstract: Fresh root vegetables coat a battered foodstuff for a prefried and deep-frozen food product. The vegetables may be coated with a predusting flour. To prepare the food product, the vegetables, which may include predusting flour, are coated on the battered foodstuff, prefried and then deep-frozen. The battered foodstuff may be fed onto the vegetables on a conveyor and then more vegetables are fed onto the foodstuff.