Determine product texture with hand-held tester.Evaluating products for their texture-related qualities helps food technologists to develop new products and improve existing ones more efficiently. The tenderness of peas and poultry products as well as the crispness of potato chips and the crunchiness Crunchiness is the gustatory sensation of muffled grinding of a foodstuff. Crunchiness differs from crispiness in that a crispy item is quickly atomized, while a crunchy one offers sustained, granular resistance to jaw action. of apples are often examined by many laboratories. The freshness of baked goods is important to consumers and may be objectively measured with the proper testing equipment. Many firms are searching for the proper combination of crispness, crunchiness and chewiness Chewiness is the gustatory sensation of labored mastication due to sustained, elastic resistance from a foodstuff. Canonically chewy foods include caramel, rare steak, and such eponymously chewy items as chewing gum and Chewy Granola Bars. to help make their products successful in the marketplace. New packaging systems and antistalants promote longer shelf life, and food technologists need to carefully measure the effects these materials may have on a product. Frozen fish, shrimp and other foods require careful processing. Technologists seek the best processing techniques to use by testing each alternative. Creams, gels and puddings must have the appropriate viscosity of flow properties that are measured in specialized fixtures on testing instruments. Food technologists must use precision equipment to measure the textural properties of food--a product's ripeness, chewiness, gumminess, brittleness Brittleness That characteristic of a material that is manifested by sudden or abrupt failure without appreciable prior ductile or plastic deformation. , viscoelasticity Viscoelasticity, also known as anelasticity, is the study of materials that exhibit both viscous and elastic characteristics when undergoing deformation. Viscous materials, like honey, resist shear flow and strain linearly with time when a stress is applied. and tenderness. These properties can help developers characterize new foods that can be prepared quickly but which taste homemade home·made adj. 1. Made or prepared in the home: homemade pie. 2. Made by oneself. 3. Crudely or simply made. Adj. 1. . This helps food manufacturers find success in the marketplace. Instron Corp. is a provider of testing equipment designed to evaluate the mechanical properties of materials and components. The company is marketing a hand-held mechanical tester, the In-Spec 2200. The portable instrument is designed for testing the firmness, texture and ripeness of products. The testing device can alternate between two test modes: push-pull and tension compression. In the push-pull mode, the force reacts against the object itself. In the tension-compression mode, the force reacts against a built-in crosshead cross·head n. A beam that connects the piston rod to the connecting rod of a reciprocating engine. Noun 1. crosshead - a heading of a subsection printed within the body of the text crossheading . In both modes, the tester applies load or displacement at known, repeatable speeds to ensure consistent results. This device also incorporates a color, hand-held personal digital assistant (PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) A handheld computer for managing contacts, appointments and tasks. It typically includes a name and address database, calendar, to-do list and note taker, which are the functions in a personal information manager (see PIM). ) that monitors tests, captures results and connects to networks. With the PDA, you can download data to a PC or network, or you can upload that information to individual testers to provide instructions and work requirements. The tester can be customized with grips, fixtures and application software to meet custom-testing requirements. Further information. Instron Corp., 100 Royall St., Canton Canton, cities, United States Canton. 1 City (1990 pop. 13,922), Fulton co., W central Ill., in the corn belt; inc. 1849. It is a trade and industrial center for a coal and farm area. 2 Town (1990 pop. 18,530), Norfolk co. , MA 02021; phone: 781-828-2500; fax: 781-575-5751; www.instron.com. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion