Well…Can you print 3D edible items?

It sounds like the stuff of science fiction- Can you print 3D edible items? Well you may be surprised to know but the simple answer is…yes.

Foodini

One example of a recently developed technology specifically for printing 3D edible items is the Foodini. While other printers create items from plastic or metal this forms items from edible ingredients that come out of stainless steel capsules.

The process is similar however there are challenges as Lynette Kucsma of Natural Machines explains “With plastics there’s one melting point whereas food has different temperatures, consistencies and textures. Also food doesn’t hold its shape as well as plastic”.

In effect food printers such as the Foodini are designed to take away the fiddlier aspects of food production- for example instead of slaving away creating identical pasties the printer crafts identical items from a template.

At present the technology is mainly designed for the catering industry but there are also plans for a machine designed for home use. While at present the machine is only designed to produce the food in future there will also be ones that can cook the food after it has been moulded into shape.

Will people eat food which has been 3d printed?

Of course there is an element of cynicism- will people want to eat food that has been printed? Lynette counters, pointing out the initial fear of the microwave “ Fast forward 30 years and there’s one in every household. This is real food with real, fresh ingredients, it’s just prepared using a new technology.”

Whether this will indeed become as ubiquitous as the microwave remains to be seen. What is for sure is the thought that 3D printed edible items are now achievable opens a range of potential possibilities.