Abstract: This invention is directed to a system for cooling a product comprising an insulated housing; a cooling means inside the housing for cooling the product so as to establish a cooling zone inside the housing; and a transport assembly inside the housing adapted for continuously transporting the product to be cooled into and out of the cooling zone, the assembly comprising an inlet assembly for delivering food products for processing, an outlet assembly for discharging food products for subsequent processing, an intermediate assembly disposed for coaction with the inlet assembly and the outlet assembly to provide a processing zone without suspending movement of the inlet assembly and the outlet assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for surface crust freezing of a food product utilizes a refrigeration shell enclosing a freezing chamber, the freezing chamber having a cavity shaped to substantially accommodate the shape of the exterior surface of the food product; the cavity communicating with the refrigeration shell; a transport substrate to carry the food product into the freezing chamber; a cryogen supply; and a gas circulation device in the refrigeration shell in communication with the cryogen supply to introduce a cooling flow of gas containing cryogen into the cavity so as to contact the food product along its exterior surface.