Method of filling and closing containers, such as bottles and similar containers, for containing products, such as beverages and similar products

A method of filling and closing containers configured to contain a liquid material in a filling and closing arrangement at a handling station of a filling and closing machine, said method comprising:

• moving a container comprising a bottle, can, or similar container to said handling station of said filling and closing machine;
• moving said container into sealing engagement with said filling and closing arrangement at said handling station, and thereby sealing a process chamber of said filling and closing arrangement from the surrounding environment;
• performing an evacuation step comprising evacuating the interior of said container at least once and producing a container pressure inside said container below atmospheric pressure;
• performing a flushing step comprising flushing the interior of said container with steam or a flushing gas comprising steam, and thereby increasing said container pressure to at least atmospheric pressure;
• performing a filling step comprising opening a filling valve of said filling and closing arrangement and flowing liquid filling material into said container;
• performing a settling step comprising adjusting a chamber pressure in said processing chamber, using steam or a settling gas comprising steam, to a first chamber pressure at or above a carbon dioxide saturation pressure of said liquid filling material;
• performing a closing step, at essentially said first chamber pressure, comprising pressing a closure cover onto an opening in said container using a closing device of said filling and closing arrangement of said handling station;
• and
• detecting, using at least one pressure sensor disposed in said process chamber, at least one actual pressure in said process chamber, and controlling the performance of at least one of said evacuation step, said flushing step, and said settling step based on said at least one actual pressure detected by said at least one pressure sensor.