Method for producing 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), wherein a) solutions (hereinbelow called starting solution) which comprise a hexose and an organic solvent with a boiling point greater than 200° C. (at standard pressure) (for short called high-boiling component), and steam are fed to a reaction vessel, b) in the reaction vessel, a conversion of the hexose to HMF takes place in the presence of steam with the simultaneous distillative removal of the HMF and c) as distillate, an aqueous, HMF-comprising solution (hereinbelow called distillate) is obtained.