A method and apparatus for tempering material is provided. One or more liquids are atomized by at least one sprayer into droplets which are guided towards a surface of a hot material so that at least some of the droplets collide with the surface of the hot material and evaporate, thus removing thermal energy from the surface layer of the hot material. Impact members may be used to further reduce the size of the droplets. The droplets may be guided to the surface by a separate guiding gas flow.