Abstract: A machine and process are provided for forming small, random sized potato pieces suitable for use in preparing potato hash browns and potato patties and the like. Blanched potatoes are chilled and then swept against a blunt edge resulting in shattering of each potato into relatively small, random-sized pieces. If desired, each blunt shatter-edge can be provided in a knife unit including one or more cross-cut knives to subdivide larger shattered pieces into a smaller size. The produced potato pieces are chilled as by freezing or by chilling to a refrigerated temperature for shipment and/or storage pending finish preparation.

Abstract: An improved rotary cutting apparatus is provided for cutting vegetables, particularly such as potatoes, into a distribution of strip sizes not exceeding a predetermined length limit. The apparatus comprises a conventional rotary impeller having peripheral blades for carrying potatoes into cutting relation with a slicing knife on an impeller housing for dividing the potatoes into slices followed by subsequent cutting into strips by strips knives on an adjacent cross-cut spindle. The impeller further includes an axially centered divider ring defining a pair of annular chambers for potato passage outwardly to the slicing knife, wherein longer potatoes are required to orient with their longitudinal axes extending generally radially with respect to the impeller, and generally perpendicular to the slicing knife, to limit the maximum length of the cut slices and the resultant cut strips.