3D printing is often used to create consumer goods and scientific items, but the technology is now breaking into a new area: food. Columbia University engineers successfully used a 3D printer with laser technology to create a perfectly cooked seven-ingredient cheesecake. The experiment shows exciting promise for the future of 3D printed food. Researchers imagine a world in which 3D printers are programmed with various recipes, which could have large-scale effects on food creation and distribution. 3D printing allows for precise amounts of ingredients to be used and can localize flavor to certain parts of the dish, meaning that it can be customized to a person’s preference. It took about 30 minutes for the Columbia team to print one slice of cheesecake, which they claim tastes just as good as the homemade version.
Image via Jonathan Blutinger / Columbia Engineering
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