Structure and physical properties of foods

Understanding the structure of food is vital in predicting how it will taste and how it will react when processed or cooked. At Campden BRI we have many years of experience in analysing such issues, particularly from our links with the cereals industry and with our microscopy expertise.

Campden BRI offers a wide range of methods for the characterisation of the texture of food and food ingredients. In addition to the examples listed below, we also have specialist imaging techniques that allow the structure and colour of foods to be visually analysed.

Rheology

• Measurement of viscoelastic properties of food systems such as bread, pastry and biscuit doughs and other food materials.
• Fluid rheology of wafer and cake batters, gels and dispersions, flavours, yoghurts, mayonnaise and so on.
• Generation of viscosity flow curves from -10 to 120°C and calculation of n and K values.
• Fundamental rheological measurements allowing inter-laboratory comparisons.
• Gelatin bloom strength - Gelatin Manufacturers Institute of America method for assessing gelatin quality

Thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimetry

• Heat flow changes associated with physical changes in state, for example, melting properties. Also gives a measure of the liquid to solid ratio of plastic shortenings.
• Determination of starch gelatinisation or "degree of cook" in cereal based foods.
• Measurement of the rates of staling and the effectiveness of antistaling enzymes and emulsifiers in baked and extruded products.
• Fat melting profiles and crystallisation properties.
• Specific heat capacity measurements for engineering calculations.

Emulsifier properties

• Interfacial properties of surfactants/emulsifiers, as they occur in foams, emulsions, batters and liquid systems, carried out by interfacial tension and rheology measurements.
• Foaming behaviour of emulsifiers.

Contact Us

If you would like further information about structure and physical properties of foods please email us at info@campden.co.uk or call our switchboard on +44(0)1386 842000 and they will be happy to direct your call to the relevant person.