Patent ID: 7048961

Claim:
A method for freezing edible marine animals, said animals having a microbially protective mucosal layer, comprising: stunning said animals with a stunning gas in an aqueous medium; exsanguinating each of said animals by cutting each of said animals while said animals are in said aqueous medium, said animals being cut in a matter effective to substantially preserve said mucosal layer, said animals being maintained in said aqueous medium during exsanguinations; and immersion freezing said animals by contacting said animals with a liquid cooling medium having a temperature of below 320° F., said cooling medium comprising a chloride salt and an organic cooling agent, said organic cooling agent being an agent selected from the group consisting of isoparaffin or terpene oils, carbohydrates having a molecular weight between 180 and 1,500, sugar alcohols having a molecular weight between 180 and 1,500, glycosides having a molecular weight between 180 and 1,500, and mixtures thereof; and maintaining said animals in said cooling medium for a time period, whereby said animals reach a core temperature of 0° F. or below during said time period.