3D food printers will change the way we cook
Printing with 3D technology
has been used to create three-dimen sional objects like
smartphone cases and artificial organs for the body , but researchers
have pushed the envelope and revolutionised this technology by bringing
it into the realm of food.Taking inspiration from the food replicator in
Star Trek, researchers have developed 3D food printers. The first of
their kind in the world, they were launched at an international
electronics show in Las Vegas last month and will be available to the
public by end of 2015. These unique gadgets are said to combine
technology , food, art and design, and can be used to print anything
from chocolates to pasta, in whatever shape or size you want. Sounds
too good to be true? Well, proponents of the food printer claim that it
will eventually find place in our kitchen, just like the microwave or
blender. “This emerging concept of 3D food printers
will be a great success story , if they are able to deliver the promise,
i.e., being able to produce quality food and enhance its taste. 3D food
printers are the way forward. I envisage them to be like a coffee
maker, available in every home, and used by the household, for making
regular meals as well as designing special dishes for occasions,“ says
Sanjeev Shekhar, general manager of a Mumbai-based luxury hotel.
INDIA'S FIRST 3D CHOCOLATE PRINTER
Called Chocobot, this 3D food printer was designed by a group of
engineering students in Manipal last year. WHAT IT DOES: It can create
custom-designed chocolates, decorations and icing. It takes about 40
minutes to print a plate of chocolates.
INTRICATE DESIGNS:
One of the best traits about the food
printer is that it allows one to create complex designs like detailed
cake decorations, foods in unusual shapes and is useful for recipes
that require precision and dexterity . Says pastry chef Vijay
Mahajan, “When it comes to making delicate patterns on food or sugar
works for desserts, the food printer will help to a great extent. In
fact, services like doodle 3D are already allowing customers to
design their own patterns and experiment with materials.“
PERSONALISED MEALS:
It helps one make tailored meals, as
per their diet and nutritional requirement. For example, in addition to
proteins, carbohydrates and fats, one can also add custom amounts of
vitamins and minerals into the mix.
SAVE TIME:
Just like the washing machine has made life
easier and saved time and energy , the food printer will save cooking
time. To make a meal, one only has to load the ingredients, select
the desired food, and click print.
desired food, and click print.
PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING:
It will also encourage healthy eating because the gadget requires fresh ingredients before printing.
