Apparatus for cooking, pasteurisation or sterilisation of food or other products, using steam and operating at low pressure or under vacuum. The apparatus comprises a heat-insulated enclosure 1 which is resistant to pressure or to a vacuum, with a useful volume receiving the products to be treated at 7 and a compartment 5 for the production of steam, receiving a volume of water 9 and equipped with immersed heating means 8. The steam is diffused into the useful part of the enclosure 1 by tubes 12 and is circulated by a fan 15. Means of pressurising or of producing a vacuum 18, 19 are connected to the enclosure 1. Particular applications: food and pharmaceutical industries. <IMAGE>
