Posted on 05/21/2013 10:57:57 AM PDT by LibWhacker
on May 21, 2013 07:24 am
NASA is funding research into 3D-printed food. As Quartz reveals, Mechanical engineer Anjan Contractor received a $125,000 grant from the agency to build a prototype 3D printer with the aim of automating food creation. It's hoped the system could provide astronauts food during long-distance space travel, but its creator has the loftier aim of solving the increasing food shortages around the world by cutting down on waste. The software for the printer will be open-source, while the hardware is based on the open-source RepRap Mendel 3D printer.
The concept is to use basic "building blocks" of food in replaceable powder cartridges. By combining each block, a wide range of foods should be able to be created by the printer. The cartridges will have a lifespan of 30 years, more than long enough to enable long-distance space travel. After proving his system works on a basic level by printing chocolate, Contractor will start his project within the next few weeks by attempting to print a pizza.
The pizza printer will first print a layer of dough, which will be cooked while being printed, before mixing tomato powder with water and oil to print a tomato sauce. The topping for the pizza will be a nondescript "protein layer." It's early days for the project, but if it's successful it would be a real milestone on the way towards a Star Trek-style Replicator.
“Nondescript protein layer....it’s what’s for dinner.”
Prints like chicken
Lol, hey, I hear they can be real yummy when sauteed/dissolved into certain dishes, as a kind of secret ingredient/flavor enhancer. The fishy taste goes away and nothing but goodness remains, or so they say. There might be some truth to it, but I’m not brave enough to try it! I’d have to be shown.
Yes, but can it do “Tea, Earl Grey, Hot...”
Yes, it can oh Chef of the Future!
Coming soon to a kitchen near you.
The Krusty Krab already tried one of those things.
if it says “halal” anywhere on it i ain’t eating it.
Fine, now where’s my phaser?
I can only dream.
Ha Ha !! One of my favorites!
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