An apparatus and method for recovering a cryogenic fluid used to freeze a food item in a food freezer. The cryogenic fluid is sprayed onto the food item such as a bird carcass and when there is excess cryogenic fluid, it is captured in a cryogen drain basin situated at the bottom of the food freezer. The cryogenic fluid is fed to a pump which will pump the cryogenic fluid to a spray assembly which will spray the cryogenic fluid in its gaseous or liquid form into the food freezer or else to alternative chilling, cooling or inerting processes
