Plate freezers are used to freeze flat products, such as pizzas, pastries, fish fillets, and beef patties, as well as irregular-shaped vegetables that are packaged in brick-shaped containers, such as asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, and broccoli.
The food is firmly pressed between metal plates that are cooled to subfreezing temperatures by internally circulating refrigerants.
High rates of heat transfer can be obtained between the packaged product and these metal, refrigerant plates.