A system for quick freezing of articles in which an elongated, vertically oriented housing is provided with elevator means for successively and incrementally lowering trays containing the articles through a freezing chimney within the housing. A cryogenic coolant is introduced through metered orifices along vertical pipes extending upwardly through the chimney. The internal chimney surfaces are arranged to cooperate with the trays and coolant orifices so that the articles in the trays are subjected to a zig-zag, reversed flow of coolant as the trays advance downwardly through the chimney.