Abstract: A process for high-temperature sterilisation of products such as milk and the like comprises the steps of directly injecting steam into the product for heating it to a lower temperature than the sterilisation temperature, making the product stand for a definite period of time, making the product pass into an infuser to further heat it to the sterilisation temperature, keeping it to this temperature for a predetermined period of time, admitting the product to a vacuum chamber for sudden cooling of same. A plant for application of the above process therefore comprises a steam injector (12), an accumulator for product standing (13), an infuser (14) and a vacuum chamber (19), disposed in series.