A SYSTEM FOR RECORDING DEFORMATIONS IN TEXTURE TESTS*

Abstract
An instrumental technique is described for recording food deformation in texture tests. The time required for the applied force to change between two levels is accurately recorded in digital form. Constant deformation rates are used so that deformation is directly proportional to time. The new readout is demonstrated with springs and selected foods to indicate its performance and show the inaccuracies that occur when using strip‐chart recorders to measure deformations. The response of the new system is adequate to test products with a deformability up to 3400 g mm‐1 at deformation rates up to 100 cm min‐1 with less than 3 % error.