Carcass chilling process and apparatus

A method for chilling an animal carcass from a kill temperature to a temperature at which deterioration of the carcass is substantially prevented, said carcass having an outer surface and an interior, said method comprising:

• (a) chilling the carcass until the outer surface of the carcass is cooled to a temperature at or near the freezing point of water;
• (b) after step (a), spraying water onto substantially the entire outer surface of the carcass in an amount sufficient to form a continuous layer of ice over the outer surface;
• (c) continuing to chill the carcass at a temperature at which the layer of ice is maintained, for a time sufficient to cool the interior of the carcass to said temperature at which deterioration is substantially prevented;
• wherein the carcass is cooled by air in step (a), said air being circulated by one or more blowers.

A method for chilling an animal carcass from a kill temperature to a temperature at which deterioration of the carcass is substantially prevented, said carcass having an outer surface and an interior, said method comprising:

• (a) chilling the carcass until the outer surface of the carcass is cooled to a temperature at or near the freezing point of water;
• (b) after step (a), spraying water onto substantially the entire outer surface of the carcass in an amount sufficient to form a continuous layer of ice over the outer surface;
• (c) continuing to chill the carcass at a temperature at which the layer of ice is maintained, for a time sufficient to cool the interior of the carcass to said temperature at which deterioration is substantially prevented;
• wherein each of steps (a) and (c) is conducted in a refrigeration chamber.

A spray cabinet for use in forming a layer of ice on a carcass during cooling of said carcass from a kill temperature to a temperature at which deterioration of the carcass is substantially prevented, said cooling being performed within a refrigeration chamber, through which said carcass is transported by suspension from an overhead conveyor, said cabinet comprising:

• (a) a pair of side walls defining an elongate interior chamber, each of said side walls having an inner surface and an outer surface, said chamber having a width defined by a distance between the inner surfaces of the side walls which is slightly greater than a width of said carcass so as to closely enclose said carcass, and having a height greater than a length of said carcass;
• (b) water supply means for supplying water to said spray cabinet;
• (c) spray means in communication with said water supply means, said spray means comprising a plurality of nozzles located on the inner surface of each of the side walls, said nozzles being positioned and directed so as to ensure that water sprayed by the nozzles contacts substantially an entire outer surface of the carcass as it passes through the spray cabinet;
• and
• (d) heating means to prevent freezing of the water inside the spray means;
• wherein said interior panel space also contains said heating means, and wherein said heating means comprises electrical resistance heating means.