An article including either a frame having an interior cavity, and a flexible liner situated within the interior cavity; or a deformable frame having an interior cavity. Either frame can receive a sample, such as liquid having suspended live cells, and cooling freezes the sample to a solid sample. The solid sample can be readily ejected from the article having either a frame with the flexible liner, or the deformable frame, without extensive thawing. The solid sample can be rapidly displaced from the article.