9 Examples of How 3D Printing Will Change the Way You Eat

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3D printing food, or food materials, is not something completely new and has been explored by a host of organizations including NASA to help serve food in areas where it may be difficult to find something to eat.

However, as technology has grown over the years, so has the application of 3D printing food.

Whether you want to create a complex and artful pastry or simply need to prepare something quickly, 3D printing food could offer that and much more.

Eye-catching Pastries

Though it is not the process of directly printing food, this process of designing with a 3D printer was one of the first applications of 3D printing in the kitchen.

A legend in the 3D printing pastry world, Dinara Kasko has garnered the world’s attention with her sculptural pastries.

Both modern and minimalist, 3D technologies have allowed her to design plastic molds for her desserts to create unbelievable geometric shapes.

Her process and design methods have inspired others to build businesses around 3D printing and food.

Pasta. Pasta.

Who doesn't like a good dish of pasta? The next example on this list highlights how edible food could be printed from the convenience of your kitchen top.

World renown Italian company Barilla collaborated with Dutch research institute to bring into fruition the world’s first fresh pasta 3D printer.     

Rather than use filament, the pasta 3D technology uses a perfect mixture of traditional pasta to create food.

Similar to a 3D printer, the food is created layer-by-layer, building unique and delicious flavors that would make any grandma proud.

The Perfect Plate

When eating at a restaurant, what you may eat on, is just as important. The plating of a restaurant can quite literally make or break a restaurant.

There are great examples on this list of delicious food, but did you know people are 3D printing plates now?

Dutch company byFlow has created a 3D printer that does just that, 3D print plates.

However, the company has taken the idea even further building an entire restaurant around 3D technologies.  

Their Focus 3D printing machine can extract food and form any geometric or abstract dish shape, they can think of, for their guests.

3D Printed Fruit

Now, you probably want the sweetest and freshest possible fruit, however, would you ever be willing to try 3D printed fruit? The Dovetailed Design studio has created 3D technology that has done just that.

In collaboration with tech powerhouse Microsoft, the company has created a molecular 3D printed technique, called spherification, that allows the company to create fruity creations in just a matter of seconds.

Flavors are changed and modified with a special mixture of fruit juice and sodium alginate powder.

The 3D Printed Bar

Going out for a drink with friends is always sure to be a good experience. On some level across the globe, almost everyone participates in this unspoken tradition.

The 3D printed Ex-Designer bar could be your next stop out.

The interior of the mini bar is almost completely 3D printed, including the stools that customers sit on. Ex-Designer serves its guest with 3D printed plates, cups and cocktails glasses for the full 3D printed experience.

Chocolate 3D Printing

For those chocolate lovers out there, this next one's for you. In collaboration with the chocolate giant, Hershey’s, 3D systems has built a printer that can create complex, edible, and elegant chocolate pastries.

Dubbed, the CocoJet, instead of using a filament, the printer uses special Hershey chocolate to create its 3D printed masterpieces.

The eventual aim is to have a 3D printed chocolate machine that both chefs and hobbyist can use.

3D Printed Kitchenware

Finding the right essentials for your kitchen can be tricky and sometimes overly expensive. Just like any restaurant you want to be able to find something that matches you and your kitchen style.

Since the new innovation of ceramic 3D printing, companies have been able to create durable daily kitchen essentials that could rival some of your favorite brands.

The New Zealand company, Kamp Studio has created a 3D printed collection that is perfect for your kitchen including a tea set, a porcelain coffee pot with a lid and a golden titanium coffee filter from Osaka Coffee.     

Would you eat 3D printed food?