The future of food production can be very different from what we are used to seeing in the present day, particularly with the adoption of 3D printing in the food industry. The concept of 3D printing food is the same as normal 3D printing, it heats up the edible ingredients and 3D prints them layer by layer on the plate. As for now, 3D printing is mostly seen to be used for gourmet dining, including molecular kitchens or fancy bakeries.

Food designing for visually appealing food

The availability of 3D printing in the creation of complex, intricate shapes and geometries makes it the perfect tool to design unique shapes for visually appealing food. While culinary arts by professional chefs could be an expensive affair, 3D printing allows customisation of food designs to meet customer needs with significant cost reductions. Chocolate manufacturer Hershey's has also started to appreciate the technology by using it to create unique designs for their candy. The flexibility of 3D printing offers new opportunities in the food industry by enabling interesting new food inventions.

(Source: Natural Machines)

 Food that fits nutritional needs

Other than the appearance and shape of the food, 3D printing is able to print foods to fit consumer’s nutrition needs as well. By collecting customers’ biological samples, a meal that fits the nutritional needs of diners can be created. To achieve this, powdered foods are the main ingredient of 3D printed food that can be added according to nutritional needs.

 Due to the flexibility of 3D printing, food waste can be reduced as only the necessary and right amount of ingredients are required to produce and print the food. Other than that, 3D printing is able to integrate waste into a 3D printed paste. Fruit and vegetable wastes can be turned into puree or in a dehydrated form and reduced to powder, then to be used as a 3D printing food ingredient. Hence overproduction can be prevented.

Over time, 3D technology has evolved rapidly and is being widely used in many industries. It is certain that 3D printing plays an important role in the innovation of the food industry. From creativity, sustainability to nutrition, the usefulness of 3D printing food is apparent. Find out how you can enable the possibilities of 3D printing in food production at https://gaiapebbles.com.my/