The determination of the hardness of foodstuffs using a penetration test is of great importance for quality testing of most various foodstuffs. This test is widely used and finds its application with many foodstuffs since the hardness of a foodstuff has a great influence on the sensoric characteristics of a product.

In order to test a multitude of foodstuffs, Zwick offers penetration dies with various diameters and made from a wide range of materials (e.g. stainless steel, plexiglass, aluminum), and in the popular shapes, i.e. cylindrical, ball, beveled or conical.

With the penetration test care should be taken that the specimen has as flat a test surface as possible, and a flat underside as well.

This test is also performed under changed temperature conditions, e.g. with a Zwick Roell temperature chamber.