Abstract: Vegetable or vegetable pieces are subjected to partial dehydration with hot air to a moisture content less than about 30% and are thereafter contacted with a hot humid gaseous medium (preferably air) having a dry bulb temperature from about 140.degree.F to about 200.degree.F and a wet bulb temperature from about 120.degree.F to about 180.degree.F for a time period less than 12 minutes such that bacteria levels in the vegetables are reduced without adversely affecting other quality attributes, i.e. color, flavor, texture and without causing heat damage to the vegetables. The thusly contacted, partially dehydrated vegetables are then further dehydrated with hot air so as the reduce the moisture content of the vegetables to less than about 8%.