Texture Evaluation of Frankfurters by Dynamic Testing*

A direct sinusoidal force was applied at six frequencies to four brands of commercial frankfurter samples and the magnitude of deformation was sensed to determine the complex dynamic modulus and energy loss. Instrumental values were individually correlated with 23 characteristics identified by a trained texture profile panel as the texture profile for frankfurters. The results indicated that the dynamic testing method, especially the percent energy loss, provided a highly significant means of determining differences for eight of the frankfurter texture characteristics. Initial hardness, cohesiveness, elasticity, hardness of the cross‐section, ease of swallowing, moisture release, coarseness and skin texture identified by the profile panel had highly significant coefficients of correlation with the energy loss, ranging from—0.612 to—0.984 at 80 Hz frequency. The results indicated that the percent energy loss, as determined by the dynamic modulus technique, described a substantial amount of the total texture profile, probably as complete as any single instrumental method reported to‐date.