Method and apparatus for producing a frozen crust on a food loaf

An apparatus and process are described for quickly freezing the surface of certain loaf-shaped products prior to slicing. The apparatus of the invention includes a heat exchanger having a shaped contact surface thereon. The heat exchanger is positioned to hold and support a food loaf and refrigerant is circulated continuously therethrough to provide the contact surface at a fairly constant temperature. A retractable clamp applies pressure to the opposite side of the food loaf to compress the loaf against the refrigerated contact surface and thereby accelerate the crusting cycle. After a short cycle time of between about 30 and about 90 seconds, the clamp can be retracted and the loaf can be ejected onto a slicer feed for subsequent slicing thereof. In a second embodiment, the clamp is provided as a second heat exchanger to compress the food loaf against the contact surface of the first heat exchanger while simultaneously crusting at least one of the opposing sides of the loaf.