A cryogenic surgical system, comprising: a cryosurgical probe fluidicly interposing an inlet conduit arranged to supply a cryogenic fluid to the cryosurgical probe and an exhaust conduit arranged to direct the cryogenic fluid away from the cryosurgical probe; and a cryosurgical control unit capable of receiving the cryogenic fluid from a cryogenic fluid source, the cryosurgical control unit comprising an inlet valve fluidicly coupled to the inlet conduit and configured to selectively supply the cryogenic fluid to the cryosurgical probe via the inlet conduit and an exhaust valve fluidicly coupled to the exhaust conduit and configured to selectively permit cryogenic fluid to flow from the exhaust conduit. characterized in that the cryosurgical control unit is configured to control cooling of the cryosurgical probe to a temperature lower than a first setpoint temperature by: i. cooling the cryosurgical probe by opening the inlet valve to supply the cryogenic fluid to the cryosurgical probe and having the exhaust valve open to permit the cryogenic fluid to exhaust from the cryosurgical probe, ii. shutting the inlet valve and maintaining the exhaust valve open when a temperature of the cryosurgical probe reaches the first setpoint temperature, and iii. maintaining the inlet valve shut and maintaining the exhaust valve open while the cryosurgical probe temperature is less than the first setpoint temperature. a cryosurgical probe fluidicly interposing an inlet conduit arranged to supply a cryogenic fluid to the cryosurgical probe and an exhaust conduit arranged to direct the cryogenic fluid away from the cryosurgical probe; and a cryosurgical control unit capable of receiving the cryogenic fluid from a cryogenic fluid source, the cryosurgical control unit comprising an inlet valve fluidicly coupled to the inlet conduit and configured to selectively supply the cryogenic fluid to the cryosurgical probe via the inlet conduit and an exhaust valve fluidicly coupled to the exhaust conduit and configured to selectively permit cryogenic fluid to flow from the exhaust conduit. characterized in that the cryosurgical control unit is configured to control cooling of the cryosurgical probe to a temperature lower than a first setpoint temperature by: i. cooling the cryosurgical probe by opening the inlet valve to supply the cryogenic fluid to the cryosurgical probe and having the exhaust valve open to permit the cryogenic fluid to exhaust from the cryosurgical probe, ii. shutting the inlet valve and maintaining the exhaust valve open when a temperature of the cryosurgical probe reaches the first setpoint temperature, and iii. maintaining the inlet valve shut and maintaining the exhaust valve open while the cryosurgical probe temperature is less than the first setpoint temperature. i. cooling the cryosurgical probe by opening the inlet valve to supply the cryogenic fluid to the cryosurgical probe and having the exhaust valve open to permit the cryogenic fluid to exhaust from the cryosurgical probe, ii. shutting the inlet valve and maintaining the exhaust valve open when a temperature of the cryosurgical probe reaches the first setpoint temperature, and iii. maintaining the inlet valve shut and maintaining the exhaust valve open while the cryosurgical probe temperature is less than the first setpoint temperature.