Tomato sample firmness was measured by a penetration test
using a texture analyzer (TA-XT Plus; Stable Micro Systems, Surrey,
UK). This test was carried out using a cylindrical stainless steel
module of Ø 4 mm with a test speed of 1.5 mm/s and a distance
of 15 mm. Two maximum forces were registered in this test, corresponding to the maximum force required to penetrate the pulp and
the skin respectively. The texture test was performed four times in
fresh and dried tomato halves. Then the ratio (r) of the maximum
penetration force of dried tomatoes (FmaxDT) and the fresh tomatoes
(FmaxFT) was evaluated