A steriliser comprising a head (11) and a detachable container (12) sealingly engageable therewith to provide a pressure-resistant chamber. The head (11) having mounted therein a heating element (21). The head (11) is pivotally mounted to a frame (5, 8) such that the steriliser may be selectively moved between a horizontal inoperative position and a vertical operative position with the container (12) extending upwardly from the head (11). The water or sterilising fluid are brought into contact with the heating element (21) when the steriliser is moved to said operative position so as to cause the fluid to vaporize and pressurize the chamber resulting in articles positioned in the chamber being sterilised.
