In order to provide for a method as well as for an apparatus (10； 100； 200) for sterilizing a product (18), for example a food product, in an efficient and reliable way, - a heat exchanger system having - at least one first delivery apparatus (12； 112) for delivering a cool, in particular super cooled, air flow (22A, 22B； 122) to the product (18) and - at least one second delivery apparatus (14； 114) for delivering a heated or hot air flow (24A, 24B； 124) to the product (18) downstream from the first delivery apparatus (12； 112) for providing thermal shock (TS) to microorganisms on the product (18)； and - a conveyor (16； 32) for moving the product (18) from a first position near the first delivery apparatus (12； 112) to a second position near the second delivery apparatus (14； 114) are proposed.
