Texture Testing

Texture testing is the instrumental measurement of a product’s physical response to an applied force. It provides quantifiable data on characteristics such as firmness, elasticity, adhesiveness, and cohesiveness, which are attributes consumers perceive when touching, biting, spreading, or otherwise interacting with a product.

By replicating the forces a product experiences during handling or consumption, texture testing allows manufacturers to simulate sensory feedback in a controlled and repeatable way. The data complements sensory evaluation, enabling objective comparisons between batches, formulations, or competitive products. This measurable approach is essential for quality assurance, research and development, and regulatory compliance.

Texture testing ensures consistent product performance, supports process control, and validates compliance with industry standards. Even small changes in raw materials, processing conditions, or environmental factors can alter texture. Instrumental testing detects these differences and provides the data needed to maintain quality.

In research and development, texture measurement helps teams refine formulations to improve performance, stability, or consumer appeal. For example, in food manufacturing it can optimise chewiness in confectionery or maintain crispness in snacks. In cosmetics, it can achieve the desired smoothness in a moisturiser or control the thickness of a foundation. In pharmaceuticals, it can ensure a tablet has the correct hardness for dosage integrity.

Texture is also linked to consumer perception, with certain properties conveying freshness, luxury, or effectiveness. By measuring these attributes, manufacturers can engineer consistent sensory experiences that align with brand and product expectations.

Common test types and measurements

• Compression tests - assess firmness or hardness by applying a controlled force to compress the sample.
• Penetration tests - measure resistance when a probe pierces a product, common for gels, soft solids, and creams.
• Extrusion tests - evaluate the flow and consistency of semi-solids by forcing them through an opening, revealing properties such as spreadability or cohesiveness.
• Tensile tests - determine how a product stretches before breaking, important for elastic foods or adhesive materials.
• Shear tests - measure resistance to cutting or shearing, relevant for fibrous materials or certain pet foods.

Key measurements include firmness, springiness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness, and chewiness, each offering insight into performance, handling, and consumer perception.

Sample preparation and conditions

Accurate and repeatable results depend on consistent sample preparation. This includes maintaining uniform geometry, controlling temperature and humidity, and ensuring the same test speed, probe type, and sample orientation for each test. This control eliminates environmental and procedural variability.

Instrumentation and probe selection

Different probes and fixtures are selected depending on the product and the measurement needed:

• Cylindrical or conical probes for penetration into gels or creams
• Blade or wire fixtures for cutting and shear tests
• Compression plates for firm solids
• Specialised fixtures for delicate or irregular samples such as pastries or coated confectionery

Tailored systems for diverse industries

Mecmesin offers precision texture testing systems designed to handle everything from soft gels and emulsions to firm solids. The MultiTest-dV and OmniTest ranges provide controlled loading with high resolution and accuracy, making them suitable for quality control, formulation development, and comparative product testing in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and pet food industries.

Versatile fixtures and load cells

A modular design allows interchangeable fixtures and load cells to match the appropriate force range. This ensures high repeatability whether measuring the spreadability of a cream at low forces or the breaking strength of a tablet at higher loads.

Software for real-time analysis and reporting

VectorPro software enables both pre-configured and custom test routines, displaying real-time graphs of force, time, and displacement. It automates calculations such as peak force, area under the curve, and time to failure, with optional pass or fail criteria for production QA. Results can be exported for integration with quality management systems and audit trails.

Global expertise and support

Mecmesin provides installation, calibration, application consultancy, and tailored training. Support ensures tests remain compliant with ISO, ASTM, and industry-specific standards, even when regulations or internal requirements change.

Food industry standards

• ISO 11036 - sensory analysis for food texture profile methodology
• ASTM D1321 - penetration test method for waxy materials
• GME Bloom - gelatine strength testing

Cosmetic and pharmaceutical standards

• ISO 2555 - measurement of apparent viscosity
• Internal protocols for creams, gels, and emulsions, often based on or adapted from international standards

Mecmesin systems can replicate legacy Brookfield test setups for organisations requiring continuity, while providing improved precision, control, and data resolution.

Texture testing in food manufacturing

Bread softness for freshness control, snack crispness for quality assurance, firmness in dairy products, and chewiness in confectionery to match consumer expectations.

Texture testing in cosmetics

Quantitative measurements of cream smoothness, perceived oiliness, and spreadability to ensure consistent product feel and performance.

Texture testing in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals

Gel stiffness for stability studies, tablet breaking strength for dose integrity, and mouthfeel testing to improve patient compliance.

Pet food and animal nutrition products

Uniform consistency in wet food and controlled bite resistance in dry kibble without excessive crumbling.

Mecmesin supports manufacturers, product developers, and QA teams with texture testing solutions tailored to their materials and industries. Our engineers can recommend probes, fixtures, and test methods for products ranging from soft gels to rigid solids, ensuring compliance with relevant standards. Contact us to discuss your requirements and find the most effective way to achieve accurate, repeatable results in your texture testing.