A method of molding plastic foam products with inserts; the method comprising the steps of: setting up a molding machine comprising two half-molds (8, 9), each having seats arranged in an orderly configuration to removably house the inserts; the two half-molds (8, 9) being movable with respect to each other between an open position, and a closed position in which the two half-molds (8, 9) define a molding chamber; and operating the machine to perform a molding cycle comprising a loading step to load the inserts into the seats of one of the two half-molds (8, 9) in the open position; a molding step comprising a sub-step of closing the half-molds (8, 9), and a sub-step of injecting granular plastic material between the closed half-molds (8, 9); and an unloading step to unload the molded products; said loading step comprising: a first sub-step of prearranging the inserts in said orderly configuration on a layout plate outside the half-molds (8, 9); a second sub-step of removing all the prearranged inserts simultaneously off the layout plate; and a third sub-step of transferring all the prearranged inserts simultaneously to the respective seats; each molding cycle overlapping a preceding and a following molding cycle, so that, in a sequence of molding cycles, the first sub-step of one molding cycle is performed at least partly during the molding step of a preceding molding cycle; wherein the second sub-step of one molding cycle is performed while the molding step of a preceding cycle is still in progress; and wherein the second and third sub-step are performed by a transfer plate, which is operated to move between a horizontal pickup position, in which the transfer plate cooperates with the layout plate to remove the prearranged inserts; a vertical standby position, in which the transfer plate is located close to and outside the half-molds (8, 9); and a vertical release position, in which the transfer plate is interposed between the two half-molds (8, 9), and cooperates with one of the two half-molds (8, 9) to release the prearranged inserts into the respective seats. setting up a molding machine comprising two half-molds (8, 9), each having seats arranged in an orderly configuration to removably house the inserts; the two half-molds (8, 9) being movable with respect to each other between an open position, and a closed position in which the two half-molds (8, 9) define a molding chamber; and operating the machine to perform a molding cycle comprising a loading step to load the inserts into the seats of one of the two half-molds (8, 9) in the open position; a molding step comprising a sub-step of closing the half-molds (8, 9), and a sub-step of injecting granular plastic material between the closed half-molds (8, 9); and an unloading step to unload the molded products; said loading step comprising: a first sub-step of prearranging the inserts in said orderly configuration on a layout plate outside the half-molds (8, 9); a second sub-step of removing all the prearranged inserts simultaneously off the layout plate; and a third sub-step of transferring all the prearranged inserts simultaneously to the respective seats; each molding cycle overlapping a preceding and a following molding cycle, so that, in a sequence of molding cycles, the first sub-step of one molding cycle is performed at least partly during the molding step of a preceding molding cycle; wherein the second sub-step of one molding cycle is performed while the molding step of a preceding cycle is still in progress; and wherein the second and third sub-step are performed by a transfer plate, which is operated to move between a horizontal pickup position, in which the transfer plate cooperates with the layout plate to remove the prearranged inserts; a vertical standby position, in which the transfer plate is located close to and outside the half-molds (8, 9); and a vertical release position, in which the transfer plate is interposed between the two half-molds (8, 9), and cooperates with one of the two half-molds (8, 9) to release the prearranged inserts into the respective seats. a first sub-step of prearranging the inserts in said orderly configuration on a layout plate outside the half-molds (8, 9); a second sub-step of removing all the prearranged inserts simultaneously off the layout plate; and a third sub-step of transferring all the prearranged inserts simultaneously to the respective seats; each molding cycle overlapping a preceding and a following molding cycle, so that, in a sequence of molding cycles, the first sub-step of one molding cycle is performed at least partly during the molding step of a preceding molding cycle; wherein the second sub-step of one molding cycle is performed while the molding step of a preceding cycle is still in progress; and wherein the second and third sub-step are performed by a transfer plate, which is operated to move between a horizontal pickup position, in which the transfer plate cooperates with the layout plate to remove the prearranged inserts; a vertical standby position, in which the transfer plate is located close to and outside the half-molds (8, 9); and a vertical release position, in which the transfer plate is interposed between the two half-molds (8, 9), and cooperates with one of the two half-molds (8, 9) to release the prearranged inserts into the respective seats.