Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, is a process in which an object is created layer by successive layer to form a whole. Until now, 3D printers have created things from plastic, resin, metal, and even chocolate. As technology advances, so will the ability to print from other materials and combinations of materials. This will have serious implications across many industries, including some very exciting possibilities for the food industry.

How do 3D food printers work?

Simply put, you get what you put in. Food can be divided into three main components: proteins, carbohydrates and fats. One day, the technology will be advanced enough to simply put a custom amount of these nutritional categories into the printer, add custom flavors, and choose a type of food to print.

If you wanted a high-protein pasta, you’d insert the raw ingredients, tell the printer the protein ratio you want, click the pasta button, and hit print. Condiments and sauces will be made in a similar way. With the development of bioprinting, it is conceivable that you can even print organic food such as an apple or an orange. For all you meat lovers out there, don’t worry, meat is already going into print and is reportedly just as delicious as they’re charged for.

As for the taste of printed food, there is no reason for it to taste any different than “regular” food. It’s made from the same ingredients, the only difference is how it’s put together. In fact, due to the high levels of customization that 3D printing offers, people can get exactly the flavor that satisfies them the most.

This process could potentially save households as much time as the invention of the washing machine. To make a meal you just have to load the ingredients, select the desired food and click on print. This expedited process is sure to save people a lot of time when they would otherwise be cooking.

In the future, 3D printers will be able to print at the molecular level. When this day comes, food printing can become as complex as one is willing to program.

personalized nutrition

Perhaps the most useful aspect of food printing is its nutritional capacity. Because you can directly control what you put in your food, you can also control the nutritional properties of the food. In addition to protein, carbohydrates, and fat, custom amounts of vitamins and minerals can also be added to the mix.

If you’re an athlete who needs a high-protein, high-carb diet, all you have to do is tell your printer the ratios of what you want. Seniors who need a low-carb, high-calcium diet can get these specs at the click of a button. Pregnant women can get all the Omega 3 they need as long as they remember to add the proper amount to the printer.

The benefits of food printing are immense. People will easily be able to set their own diets for exactly what their body needs. This will effectively reduce obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

food design

Food printing will also revolutionize food design. With a variety of different printing methods, new shapes and textures can be created that could never have been done before. Shaping food will become a whole new specialty art, or it could just be a fun project for the family. The ability to create new textures will change the eating experience and increase the possibilities of food construction.

Special Dietary Needs

Food printing will be extraordinarily beneficial for those who have special dietary needs. Those who are gluten-free will have easier access to a greater number of food options. If you don’t put gluten in the printer, you won’t eat anything and the food options will be just as numerous. Vegetarians, vegans, and others who have dietary restrictions will also benefit from food printing.

For those who like to put certain ingredients into food, but find it difficult or time consuming to do so, this technology can be helpful. For example, an athlete who prefers whey protein after workouts will enjoy the fact that he can control what type of protein he can put into his printer.