A system for pasteurizing a liquid product includes at least one liquid component that can be pumped, including a supply container for making the unpasteurized product available, an inlet line for conveying the unpasteurized product, a pasteurization circuit for pasteurizing the product, and an outlet line for conveying the pasteurized product. The pasteurization circuit includes a buffer container for holding the product during a prescribed constant contact time for pasteurization and a fluctuating flow rate of the product through the buffer container.