A ceramic membrane was fouled with a whey protein concentrate and was later rinsed with water in order to study the influence of the main rinsing parameters (operation mode, temperature, cross-flow velocity and transmembrane pressure) on deposit removal. Rinsing efficiency was evaluated by the measurement of the membrane hydraulic resistance to standard rinsing efficiencies of 90% can be reached in 15 min. Additional procedures which may be incorporated in this step, avoiding the convective transport through the membrane or feeding the rinsing water by the permeate side, were also studied. A faster and efficient rinsing is reached when the water is pumped through the permeate side (a rinsing efficiency around 95% is obtained in the first minute).