Texture profile analysis (TPA) was performed using Brookfield CT3 Texture Analyzer (Brookfield Engineering Laboratories,Inc., MA, USA) according to Raikos et al. (2007) with slight
modification: A cylindrical plunger (TA11/1000, diameter 25.4 mm) was used to penetrate the gel in tube to 50% of its original height at a test speed of 1.0 mm/s. The hardness defined as the maximum
peak force measured during the first penetration was recorded.