A process for aftertreatment of polyol esters prepared by reacting polyols of the general formula H—(—O—[—CR1R2—]m—)o—OH in which R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, an alkyl radical having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a hydroxyalkyl radical having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, m is an integer of 1 to 10, o is an integer of 2 to 15, with linear or branched aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having 3 to 20 carbon atoms in the presence of an adsorbent and in the presence of metal compounds selected from the group of titanium compounds, zirconium compounds, tin compounds, zinc compounds, iron compounds and aluminium compounds as a catalyst while removing the water formed and subsequently treating with steam, characterized in that the polyol ester obtained is aftertreated first with an oxidizing or reducing compound and immediately thereafter with steam at a temperature of 150 to 250° C. and over a period of 0.5 to 5 hours.