Aims: The effect of critical pulsed electric field (PEF) process parameters, such as electric field strength, pulse length and number of pulses, on inactivation of Lactobacillus plantarum was investigated. Methods and Results: Experiments were performed in a pH 4.5 sodium phosphate buffer having a conductivity of 0.1 S m(-1) , using a laboratory-scale continuous PEF apparatus with a co-linear treatment chamber. An inactivation model was developed as a function of field strength, pulse length and number of pulses. Based on this inactivation model, the conditions for a PEF treatment were optimized with respect to the minimum energy required to obtain a certain level of inactivation. It was shown that the least efficient process parameter in the range investigated was the number of pulses. The most efficient way to optimize inactivation of Lact. plantarum was to increase the field strength up to 25.7 kV cm(-1) , at the shortest pulse length investigated, 0.85 mu s, and using a minimum number of pulses. The highest inactivation of Lact. plantarum at the lowest energy costs is obtained by using the equation: E =26.7tau (0.23) , in which E is the field strength and tau the pulse length. An optimum is reached by substituting tau with 5.1. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the correct choice of parameters, as predicted by the model described here, can considerably improve the PEF process. Significance and Impact of the Study: The knowledge gained in this study improves the understanding of the limitations and opportunities of the PEF process. Consequently, the advantage of the PEF process as a new option for non-thermal decontamination can be better utilized.