| abstract |
A system (10) for chilling warm animal carcasses (30) more quickly and without substantial tissue shrinkage from dehydration includes an enclosure (12) defining a first subchamber (24) and a second subchamber (26). The carcasses (30) are conveyed into the first subchamber (24) for liquid immersion into a tank (52) of cryogenic fluid to crust-freeze the exterior carcass portions. Following immersion, the semi-chilled carcasses (30) are held in the second chamber (26) while cryogenically refrigerated, sub-freezing gas is circulated around the carcasses to complete the chilling process. |