A food processing vat (7) is provided with a vent (60) that can be automatically cleaned in place, without requiring manual cleaning by a technician or removal of the vent from the vat. A nozzle (90) is mounted to at least one of the vent (60) and the vat (7) and has an opening(s) (91) that is posited with respect to the vent (60) to direct cleaning fluid into the vent. The vent (60) may include a canister (80) that concentrically surrounds at least a portion of a vent tube (70) that is fluidly connected to the vat (7), which collects cleaning fluid and/or condensate from gas that enters or exits the vat.
