Abstract: An improved assembly for moveably supporting food to be cooked in a pressure vessel is provided which assembly includes a rotatable food container and a rotation means therefore which increases the heat exchange between the food and the environment within the pressure vessel. Also provided is an apparatus for cooking food which includes a pressure vessel; heating and cooling means, a rotatable food container and a rotation means therefore which provides a more uniform processing of the food and increases the capacity of the pressure vessel with respect to the bulk of food which can be cooked in a single cycle. An improved process is also provided which includes subjecting the food to pressure, heating the food while maintaining the pressure, rapidly cooling or freezing the food while the pressure is maintained at least during the first portion of the cooling or freezing step while, at least during a part of the cycle, the food is falling intermittently through the atmosphere.