Crunchiness

Crunchiness is the sensation of muffled grinding of a foodstuff. Crunchiness differs from crispness in that a crisp item is quickly atomized, while a crunchy one offers sustained, granular resistance to jaw action. While crispness is difficult to maintain, crunchiness is difficult to overcome.

Crunchy foods are associated with freshness, particularly in vegetables. In bready foods, crunchiness can instead be associated with staleness. Other foods regularly associated with the sensation include nuts and sweets.