A blancher includes a tank and auger. The tank has a wall defining an interior space at least partially cylindrical with end walls. The auger is in the interior space and has flights. Each flight has a circumferential edge in close proximity to the wall. The flights move food product from one end to the other as the augur is turned. The auger is preferably supported by a trunnion ring extending through the end wall and as the trunnion ring turns the augur and of flights are turned. An inlet is preferably located at one end wall and located along a center line of the augur. An outlet is preferably a discharge chute extending through the other end wall. The auger preferably includes at least one lifting flight between the plurality of flights and the end, such that the lifting flight lifts the food product to the discharge chute.