FREEZING METHOD

摘要

A method of freezing a product (276), a frozen product produced thereby, and a freezing apparatus (2) useful for performing the inventive method. The inventive method comprises the step of compressing a product (276) to be frozen between a cooled first contacting surface (36) and cooled second contacting surface (36) for a time effective for at least partially freezing the product (276). The inventive freezing apparatus (2) preferably comprises: a first plate belt (108) comprising a series of first belt freezing plates (110), each first belt plate (110) having a contacting surface (36); a second plate belt (16) comprising a series of second belt freezing plates (32), each second belt plate having a contacting surface (36); and a driving system (8) for driving the plate belts (108, 16). The plate belts (108, 16) of the preferred inventive apparatus (2) are positionable adjacent to each other and are operable in a synchronized manner such that an article (276) placed on the contacting surface (36) of any given first belt freezing plate (110) will be compressed and temporarily held between the contacting surface (36) of the first belt freezing plate (110) and the contacting surface (36) of a corresponding second belt freezing plate (32). The driving system (8) of the preferred inventive apparatus (2) is operable for driving the plate belts (108, 16) in this synchronized manner.