| Abstract: | A wire extrusion cell was developed to measure pea tenderness. The area of the cell and the wire grid dimensions affected the readings. The maximum force was linearly related to the total length of the shearing wires and the open area of the grid. Cells could be made interchangeable in testing unsieved peas within 1% or better using economic manufacturing tolerances. Sample temperature, time after harvest and damage to the wires of the test cell had negligible effects on the readings. The effect of variation in compression speed was small and erratic. Sample weight, however, had a marked effect on the results. |
