Cooling apparatus 1, preferably for coffins, including a cooling circuit 2 of the type comprising a compressor 9, a condenser 10, one or more expansion valves 18, a heat exchanger 24 and a collection reservoir 14. The cooling apparatus 1 further comprises a cooling plate 3 removably connectable with fast-coupling with the circuit 2 and preferably of the disposable type, to carry out a heat exchange state with the inside of a coffin. The cooling plate 3 is composed of at least one serpentine 6 permanently installed in the coffin and pre-loaded with under pressure refrigerant fluid. The cooling circuit 2 further comprises: a control electronic system 33 incorporating a control unit of the functional states of the cooling circuit 2. Moreover, the cooling circuit 2 comprises a three-way solenoid valve 20 on a delivery duct 4 of the cooling plate 3 to allow a refrigerant liquid recovery from the cooling plate 3 at the end of the operative phase of the cooling apparatus 1 governed by the control system 33 as well as a unidirectional valve 32 placed between said three-way solenoid valve 20 and said heat exchanger 24 to prevent the backflow of refrigerant fluid in the recovery phase of said refrigerant fluid.
