The kinetics of static recrystallization of a niobium- and nitrogen-bearing austenitic stainless steel, 22Cr-10Ni-3.5Mn-2.5Mo-0.4Nb-0.35N, was studied. The recrystallization kinetics were studied through the metallographic analysis of specimens submitted to hot torsion tests. The samples were strained to epsilon = 0.3 with a strain rate of 1 s(-1) at temperatures ranging from 1000 degrees C to 1200 degrees C and delay times ranging from 0.1 s to 900 s. The recrystallized fractions as a function of temperature and delay time after the deformation were measured and these indicated that the material only recrystallizes completely at T >= 1100 degrees C. At T <= 1050 degrees C, the recrystallized fractions that were measured did not exceed 16 %, even for delay times as long as 900 s. Multipass torsion tests under continuous cooling conditions were carried out and strain-induced precipitation of the Z-phase was seen. The inhibition of the static recrystallization took place for T < 1110 degrees C. Based on this evidence, the grain refinement brought about by recrystallization controlled processing and conventional controlled processing were assessed.