a cooling tunnel system that includes a conveyor for carrying objects through a tunnel chamber . the conveyor enables a cooling fluid to pass therethrouqh and about the objects . a plurality of slot means feeds the cooling fluid to the conveyor means . each slot means includes at least one aperture for enabling vapor flow onto and about the objects . a plenum adjacent the plurality of slot means distributes the cooling fluid . and at least one fan in the tunnel chamber causes a flow of the cooling fluid into the plenum and through the slot means with sufficient velocity to impinge upon and cool the objects and to recirculate the cooling fluid within the tunnel chamber .