chewiness
Requires jaw effort
Chewiness is the quality of requiring sustained chewing—the resistance food offers before breaking down.
It describes texture rather than flavor: The chewiness of the bagel was perfect.
Chewiness can be desirable (caramels, fresh bread) or a flaw (overcooked steak).
The word occasionally extends beyond food to describe anything with similar resistant give.
Stretched boiled sugar
- gummiesChewy gelatin-based sweets
- marshmallowSpongy sugar confection
- gumdropsSugar-coated chewy candy
- jellybeansSmall sugar-coated candies
licorice · mochi · caramel · toffee · nougat · candy · confectionery · gelatin
Cured meat snack
- gristleTough connective tissue
- sinewTough connective tissue
- tendonMuscle-to-bone connector
- cartilageFlexible connective body tissue
leathery · fibrous · rubbery · overcooked · stale · hardtack · brisket · squid
Giving pleasure or satisfaction
- pleasurableCausing positive feelings
- indulgentToo willing to yield
- rewardingProviding satisfaction or benefit
- comfortingGiving emotional ease
enjoyable · delightful · morsel · texture · mouthfeel · bite · savoring · lingering
taffy
Stretched boiled sugar
- gummiesChewy gelatin-based sweets
- marshmallowSpongy sugar confection
- gumdropsSugar-coated chewy candy
jellybeans · licorice · mochi · caramel · toffee · nougat · candy · confectionery · gelatin · sticky
jerky
Cured meat snack
cartilage · leathery · fibrous · rubbery · overcooked · stale · hardtack · brisket · squid · octopus
gratifying
Giving pleasure or satisfaction
- pleasurableCausing positive feelings
- indulgentToo willing to yield
- rewardingProviding satisfaction or benefit
comforting · enjoyable · delightful · morsel · texture · mouthfeel · bite · savoring · lingering · substantial
bagel
Boiled, then baked roll
bread · crust · brownie · cookie · dough · gluten · noodle · ciabatta · croissant · brioche
- sensory testingblind tasting, taste testing, sensory thresholds, flavor profiles, mouthfeel
- sensory qualitiestaste, smell, aroma, sound, texture
- bread qualitiesfresh, stale, soft, crusty, crispy
- sensationstaste, touch, smell, sound, pain
- texturessmoothness, smooth, soft, rough, roughness
- strengthstrength, might, brawn, power, muscle
chewinesstenderness
Gentle, caring quality
softness · melt-in-your-mouth · flakiness · delicacy · smoothness
chewinesscrumbliness
Tendency to break into pieces
crispness · flakiness · brittleness · friability · crunchiness
chew, chewy, chewing, chewed, chews, chewer, mastication, masticating, chewies