An apparatus is disclosed for thawing a frozen food item, including a chamber dimensioned to receive the frozen food item, a heat exchanger operable to either heat air in the chamber or to cool the air in the chamber, a fan for creating a flow of the air within the chamber; and a tray disposed in the chamber and having an upper surface adapted to receive and support a lower surface of the frozen food item. The tray is adapted to receive a portion of the flow of air and to provide the portion of the flow of air to the lower surface of the food item such that the portion of the flow of air is distributed across the lower surface of the food item and directed upwardly about the food item.