Jonathan Blutinger / Columbia Engineering
3D printers have come a long way in the past few years. The tech offers a relatively affordable and accessible way to create all manner of materials from spitting out whole robots, to constructing homes and offices, to creating entire neighborhoods. Now, it might even become your next chef.
Researchers at Columbia University in New York City published a study on Tuesday in the journal npj Science of Food where they demonstrated a 3D printer capable of making an edible cheesecake. The device utilized “food inks” with ingredients such as Nutella, strawberry jam, peanut butter, and even graham crackers to create multiple layers until a cake was made.
Aside from having a machine that can create a delicious slice of cheesecake whenever you want, the study’s authors say that this could allow for better food safety as well as greater control over the nutritional content of your food. For example, if you’re a diabetic and your diet only allows for a certain amount of sugar, this machine could lead to a device that would let you precisely measure out that amount for your food.
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