Abstract: A deluge water type vegetable blancher is disclosed which comprises an elongated tank, a conveyor above the tank to carry vegetables longitudinally of the tank, a flood/deluge system adapted to water blanch the vegetables upon the conveyor, drain lines in the tank to discharge the blanching water, a filter receiving the discharged water from the drain lines to continuously filter and recirculate the blanching water and one or more pumps including water heaters to supply hot water at substantially constant temperature throughout the entire flood/deluge system.