Thursday, 12 February 2015

Texture Analysis in action: the Back Extrusion Rig

Back extrusion test using the TA.XTplus Texture AnalyserThe BACK EXTRUSION RIG (A/BE) is comprised of a sample container which is centrally located beneath a disc plunger. 

The disc plunger performs a compression test which extrudes the product up and around the edge of the disc. 

This test measures the consistency of viscous products, such as yoghurt, creams and sauces, processed fruit and vegetables, or moisturising creams, shampoo and hair gel products.

Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Fruit and Vegetable Texture Measurement and Analysis


Girl biting into an apple The market for fruit and vegetables, especially in many industrial countries, is constantly changing and evolving.

Every year new crops are being offered for sale in markets and this stimulates innovation in handling methods and studies of quality factors. 

Texture is one of the most important quality attributes affecting the acceptability of both fresh and processed foods. Fruit and vegetable quality is a concept based on several criteria which depend on the objective. 

Thursday, 5 February 2015

Texture Analysis in action: the Meullenet-Owens Razor Shear Blade



Chicken tenderness testing using the TA.XTplus Texture AnalyserTests using the MEULLENET-OWENS RAZOR SHEAR BLADE (A/MORS†) are conducted on whole intact poultry fillets. This minimises the experimental errors attributable to sample preparations, shortens sample preparation time and leads to a simpler testing solution. 

This method will thereby provide advantages over existing poultry breast meat tenderness methods as it could significantly save labour, time and expertise to implement for routine quality control.






Tuesday, 3 February 2015

11 ways to measure bread throughout its manufacture

Selection of artisan breads Bread is one of the oldest foods, and holds an immense historical value. The word itself has such cultural gravitas that it is often used as a metaphor for basic, general necessities.

With snack and bread products currently dominating the top five grocery brands in the UK, and the bakery market seeing steady growth, bread clearly still holds its centuries-old position as a dominant, staple food source.

Thursday, 29 January 2015

Texture Analysis in action: the SMS/Miller-Hoseney Toughness Rig



Bread toughness test using the TA.XTplus Texture AnalyserThe SMS/MILLER-HOSENEY TOUGHNESS RIG (A/MHTR) has been developed in conjunction with Prof. Hoseney and Dr. Miller of the Kansas State University. 

It is used to determine the toughness and firmness of bread and other sliceable products. 






Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Materials and Packaging Physical Characterisation

Fragile packaging cartonManufacturers today, particularly in the FMCG arena, are aware of the importance of packaging to the success of their businesses.

No matter how desirable or valuable a product, if its packaging fails, it may become unfit for purpose, impossible to handle and store, or even completely unusable and unsellable. Poor packaging performance can not only damage the product it contains, but also the reputation and profitability of the company that supplied it.

Thursday, 22 January 2015

Texture Analysis in action: the Multiple Pea Test Rig




Multiple pea hardness test using the TA.XTplus Texture AnalyserThe MULTIPLE PEA TEST RIG (HDP/MPT*) 

This
rig measures the force to simultaneously penetrate up to 18 samples.

The insert has 18 indentations surrounding a cone which allows the samples to easily locate into the test positions.

Puncture strength and penetration force are measured and the penetration distance set so that the probes penetrate completely through the sample.

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

It’s time to perform Textural Magic! Part Four

Crunching a crisp
Textural magic – designing texture into your new products

Marketplace developments suggest that consumers — and product developers — are very focused on texture.

The texture movement began around 2010, when the number of best-selling new products with a texture claim doubled over the previous 10-year period; growth has been strong and steady ever since.

The time to flaunt texture is now. Texture has enormous appeal to foodies, who are looking to find more adventure in foods. Texture is increasingly being used to confirm if a product is “real”, “fresh”, or “less processed”. Pieces of real nuts or dried fruit signal quality in cookies and bars. Moreover, texture claims are also helping to manage shoppers’ taste expectations for new products. For example, will that cookie be soft and chewy or crisp and hard?