Short-time heating of liquid product before its bottling, comprises (a) preheating the product for the short-time heating, (b) correctively cooling the short-time heated product for subsequent hot filling, and (c) temporarily storing cooling water heated in the step (b) to use as hot water in the step (a). The stored cooling water is supplied with waste heat obtained during cooling of filled product and/or during re-cooling of non-filled product. An independent claim is also included for an apparatus for short-time heating of the liquid product prior to it is bottling, comprising: a preheating unit (3) to preheat the product for heating； a corrective cooling unit (5) for cooling the short time heated product, preferably for subsequent hot filling of the product； a buffer tank (7) for temporarily storing the cooling water heated in the corrective cooling unit； a hot-water circuit (9) for connecting an output of the buffer tank with the supply line of the preheating unit； and a heat exchange circuit for supplying heat from a container cooling unit and/or a cooling unit in the buffer tank.
