Cryogenic　machining　is　one　of　the　most　commonly　used　techniques　for　processing　and　preserving　in　food　industry,　and　traditional　antifreeze　agents　cannot　regulate　the　mechanical　stress　damage　caused　by　ice　crystals　formed　during　recrystallization　or　thawing.　In　this　study,　we　successfully　developed　an　express　system　of　a　novel　recombinant　snow　flea　antifreeze　peptide　(rsfAFP),　which　has　significant　ice　recrystallization　inhibition　ability,　thermal　hysteresis　activity　and　alters　ice　nucleation,　thus　regulating　extracellular　ice　crystal　morphology　and　recrystallization.　We　showed　that　rsfAFP　improved　the　survival　rate,　acid-producing　ability,　freezing　stability,　and　cellular　metabolism　activity　of　Streptococcus　thermophilus.　We　further　showed　that　rsfAFP　interacts　with　the　membrane　and　ice　crystals　to　cover　the　outer　layer　of　cells,　forming　a　dense　protective　layer　that　maintains　the　physiological　functions　of　S.　thermophilus　under　freezing　stress.　These　findings　provide　the　scientific　basis　for　using　rsfAFP　as　an　effective　antifreeze　agent　for　lactic　acid　bacteria　cryopreservation　or　other　frozen　food.　©　2022,　The　Author(s).