A system and a process for making food products, such as dehydrated potato products, with reduced water usage, and reduced waste water production, are provided. The system includes a precooker, a cooler and a cooker having sealed process chambers in flow communication with one another, and augers for moving the food product through the process chambers. In addition, valves seal the process chambers, and transfer the food product between the process chambers at a controlled rate. The process includes the steps of precooking the food product using steam, cooling the food product using vacuum cooling and conduction cooling in combination, and then cooking the food product using steam. The process also includes the steps of moving the food product at the controlled rate using the valves, and mixing the food product during the precooking, cooling and cooking steps.