Methods and apparatus suitable for cutting food product. The apparatus includes an annular-shaped cutting head (50) and an impeller (52) coaxially mounted within the cutting head (50) for rotation about an axis of the cutting head (50) in a rotational direction relative to the cutting head (50). The cutting head (50) has lower and upper structural members (56,58), circumferentially-spaced support segments (60) between the lower and upper structural members (56,58), and at least one knife assembly (62) located at a perimeter of the cutting head (50) adjacent a corresponding one of the support segments (60). The knife assembly (62) includes a holder (74) having a slot (78), a knife (72) partially received within the slot (78), and tensioning means (70) for inducing a longitudinal tension in the knife (72).
