How stretchy is your pizza mozzarella? This machine can tell you

By Superinnovators, 16/1/2023

Arla Foods is using a smart machine to measure the stretchiness of its mozzarella when melted on top of a tasty pizza.

The Texture Analysis machine is made by British company Stable Micro Systems and can measure a range of different food texture metrics including firmness/hardness, consistency and fracturability.

TA.XTplusC Texture Analyser from Stable Micro Systems

Arla Foods posted the video on their social channels last week and users were very curious about the science of mouth watering mozzarella:

“And what is the optimal stretch for mozzarella?”

“There is no simple answer to that, but we generally go for at least 15 cm and the maximum is tailored to fit our customers preferences,” replied Niklas, Arlo Foods.

Stable Micro Systems has also developed a dedicated Cheese Extensibility Rig attachment to their machine in response to community requests.

Cheese extensibility rig

The Cheese Extensibility Rig is a device that measures the extensibility properties of a cheese sample.

It is designed to provide an objective and repeatable test method for measuring the textural characteristics of cheese, which is an important attribute for a wide range of food applications, particularly pizza.

The device consists of a heat-resistant vessel, a double-sided fork probe, and a sample retaining insert.

Cheese is placed into the vessel and microwaved or oven cooked until it is molten. The vessel and fork assembly is then inserted into a fixture base, which is securely fastened to a Texture Analyser.

The Texture Analyser pulls the fork through the molten cheese, measuring the extensibility and resistance to extension of the cheese.

Software records the force required to stretch the cheese and the distance to the breakpoint. Results show that the longer the distance, the stretchier the cheese.

Measuring the breakpoint of cheese, shown by vertical line around 90 seconds

For repeatability and replication of consumer experience, a temperature probe may be used to monitor the temperature of a sample.

The test can then be programmed to start when a chosen target temperature is attained.

This method is an improvement over previous methods of estimating the stretchability of cheese by manually lifting it with a fork, which is inherently subjective and unreliable.

The Cheese Extensibility Rig provides a reliable and objective method for measuring the textural characteristics of cheese, which is an important factor in a wide range of food applications.

It can be used to test different types of cheese, such as full-fat and reduced-fat versions, and to evaluate the impact of different processes, such as freezing, shredding, thawing, and cooking, on the textural characteristics of cheese.