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 .