Sensory Analysis Flashcards
What is aesthetic awareness?
The look, smell, taste & texture of a food influences whether or not you will buy, prepare or eat it.
How does appearance influence food choice?
Certain flavours are associated with certain colours, e.g., strawberry sweet flavours are associated with the colour red.
What is an example of expected food appearance?
We expect baked beans to be red/orange, but before processing, beans are white.
How does smell influence food choice?
Foods that have a pleasant smell are deemed to be more enjoyable to eat.
What is an example of a disliked smell in food?
Some people dislike stilton cheese/parmesan as its smell is too strong & unpleasant.
How does texture influence food choice?
Texture can be used to determine freshness; e.g., a fresh biscuit should be crunchy/crumbly.
What does the colour of cooked food indicate?
The colour created due to cooking can indicate whether a food is fully cooked.
What happens to the taste of milk when heated?
When milk is heated, it becomes sweeter because the sugars (lactose) caramelize.
How does cooking change the texture of food?
Cooking changes the texture; e.g., when pasta/rice is cooked, it becomes soft.
How can appearance be enhanced in food presentation?
Colour is added to cooked food using garnishes to make the dish look more appealing.
How does presentation affect perception of food?
Foods/dishes are judged based on their presentation; a neat plate suggests more effort.
How does texture indicate freshness?
If eating a hard sandwich, people may think it is stale, while a crispy bread roll should have a crispy outer layer.
What are the three categories of sensory analysis tests?
Preference tests, Difference tests, Descriptive tests.
What is a paired preference test?
A test of 2 products that supplies information about whether people like/dislike a product.
What is a triangle test?
A test involving 3 products with 1 difference used to identify small differences in food.
What is a descriptive ranking test?
A test used to determine what a product tastes like and its perceived sensory characteristics.
What is sensory analysis?
A scientific discipline used to measure, analyse, & interpret reactions to characteristics of food.
What are the functions of sensory analysis?
Product development, Recipe modification, Marketing of products, Evaluate differences.
How is sensory analysis used in product development?
To see if people like the taste of new products, e.g., fizzy cola flavoured crisps.
How is sensory analysis used in recipe modification?
To change an ingredient and see if people think it’s better or worse, e.g., Tesco shreddies.
How does sensory analysis relate to food quality and marketing?
It involves display & sampling stands in shops to build brand awareness.
What is the purpose of evaluating differences in sensory analysis?
To evaluate noticeable differences in similar products, e.g., Pepsi & Coke.
What conditions should be controlled during sensory analysis tests?
Containers of food samples, all windows should be open, lighting, size of sample, coding of samples, provide glass of water.
Why should food sample containers be plain?
Plain containers prevent altering the appearance of the sample, ensuring accurate results.
