3D food printers will change the way we cook

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.