3D food printing

3D food printing is the process of manufacturing food products using a variety of additive manufacturing techniques. Most commonly, food grade syringes hold the printing material, which is then deposited through a food grade nozzle layer by layer. The most advanced 3D food printers have pre-loaded recipes on board and also allow the user to remotely design their food on their computers, phones or some IoT device.

Applications

3D food printers enable rapid prototyping to get products to market faster and to personalize food. The food can be customized in shape, color, texture, flavor or nutrition, which makes it very useful for everyone engaged with food and nutrition, even for NASA. 

• Restaurants, bakeries & caterers
• Culinary schools & molecular kitchens
• Food tech & universities
• Hospitals & senior living
• Food producers & manufacturers

Benefits 

Printing with food opens up a complete array of culinary possibilities in nearly every area concerning food, including preparation, plating and presentation, personalized designs and branding, chef support, automation, personalized nutrition, alternative proteins, flavor, texture, prototyping, food waste reduction, sustainability, solutions for global hunger and more.

• Creative food design 
• Chef support & automation
• Health & personalized nutrition
• Rapid prototyping & research 
• Sustainability and solution for hunger 
• Space exploration 
• Meat bioprinting
• Reduced food waste

Safety 

3D printers are specifically manufactured with food grade and food safe materials such as stainless steel and BPA-free.

The nozzles of food cartridges for 3D food printers have narrow passages to allow for precision printing, which requires disassembling for proper cleaning. 

Bacteria accumulation can be a concern as even the smoothest looking components may have small nooks, crannies, and recesses where food can get stuck, and bacteria can grow. 

 

References:

3D food printing - Wikipedia

PowerPoint Presentation (3dfoodprintingconference.com)