The influence of flavor release from a solid test food, and its Time Intensity (TI) scoring, on chewing efficiency

•Chewing Ability (CA) may depend on oral factors, attention to and liking of a food.•Chewing Efficiency (CE, a measure of CA), has food-independent inter-subject ratios.•CE is enhanced by sweetener release and Time Intensity (TI) scoring of release.•Relating CE with flavor release: use the same test food for measuring both functions.•Relating CE with perceived flavor release: determine CE while using release scoring.