The invention relates to a method of producing a plurality of portions of a precooked food wherein the food is initially cooked at temperatures above 80 C. and prepared, the food is then cooled in a cooling phase within a maximum time of 120 min passing through the temperature range of 55 C. to 8 C. to a final temperature in the range of 8 C. to 0 C., and stored for a few days at the final temperature. The food is poured into an agitator vessel (22) during the cooling phase wherein the food is simultaneously thoroughly mixed and cooled during the cooling phase by an agitator (01, 26) constructed as a heat exchanger according to the invention.