An apparatus and method for reducing the temperature of a product include a housing having a chamber therein, and an inlet and an outlet in communication with the chamber a plurality of zones in the chamber between the inlet and the outlet and arranged in descending order of heat transfer rate atmospheres for the product from the inlet to the outlet a conveyor assembly for transferring the product from the inlet through the plurality of zones to the outlet and a controller in communication with the chamber, the plurality of zones, the heat transfer apparatus, the conveyor assembly and the heat transfer rate atmospheres, the controller having stored therein physical characteristics and a heat transfer profile of the product to adjust and control the heat transfer rate atmospheres for the product such that a heat transfer rate of the product will decrease as the product is transferred from the inlet through each one of the plurality of zones to the outlet.
