Water holding capacity

Water holding capacity (WHC) refers to the ability of a material, such as soil or protein, to retain water. It indicates how much water can be held within the structure without it draining away. For soil, higher WHC means it can hold more water for plants to access during dry periods. In materials like meat, WHC affects juiciness and tenderness, as more water retention leads to less drying out during cooking. Overall, WHC is an important property that influences water availability, nutrient retention, freshness, and texture in various contexts.