What 3D-Printed Food Looks Like

2016-04-26T21:40:00.000Z

Is that art? A sculpture? A toy? No. Actually, it's lunch.

3D printing devices are now being developed to print edible food, including desserts, pizzas, and burgers. It sounds futuristic, but the technology has been around for years.

Users place ingredients, usually pureed or otherwise processed into a thin paste, into capsules. The printer then dispenses ("prints") the supplied material following a distinct pattern, layering it until it forms a distinct shape. These are "printed" goldfish:

Keep reading to see 14 examples of the future of food.

Created with Pinya2, a 3D Printer specializing in liquids, this is a snack of printed hummus with a basil and avocado spread.

Another Pinya2 design, this is hummus dyed with icing to turn it blue. The intricate pattern is created by following a pre-programmed "printing path."

Food printers come with pre-programmed patterns that the user can choose from. The device then "prints" ingredients into the shape created by repetitiously layering the pattern.

Here, Greek Yogurt has been turned into a pyramid using a pre-selected path.

The patterns are so complex that many in the culinary world consider 3D food printing a form of art. It's easy to see why.

The ChefJet Pro is targeted towards upscale culinary experts, using powdered sugars and flavored water to create sweets in a variety of dynamic shapes and colors.

The ChefJet Pro has a variety of patterns memorized, allowing for some insane, edible patterns that aren't possible by hand.

One drawback is that the Chef Jet Pro prints fairly slowly, estimated at about an inch per hour. As the technology evolves, however, they believe there will be less of a wait.

Another drawback is the price tag. The Chef Jet Pro costs upwards of $7,000.

The Foodini food printer is less steep and priced for households at roughly $2,000. The noodles and tomato sauce below are printed, with the simple garnish added on.

Foodini is specifically designed for use with organic, local made ingredients. Even dishes with multiple ingredients, like these burgers, are easily printed.

Natural Machines, which designed Foodini, is based in Barcelona and consumers in more than 80 countries have expressed interest in the device.

Not all the pre-programmed shapes have to be complex; these are 3D Printed goldfish crackers.

Although this is very modern technology, Natural Machine believes people will eventually prefer it to processed foods and says it is the future of food.

14 photos of 3D-printed food you can actually eat

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

14 photos of 3D-printed food you can actually eat

Created with Pinya2, a 3D Printer specializing in liquids, this is a snack of printed hummus with a basil and avocado spread.

Another Pinya2 design, this is hummus dyed with icing to turn it blue. The intricate pattern is created by following a pre-programmed "printing path."

Food printers come with pre-programmed patterns that the user can choose from. The device then "prints" ingredients into the shape created by repetitiously layering the pattern.

Here, Greek Yogurt has been turned into a pyramid using a pre-selected path.

The patterns are so complex that many in the culinary world consider 3D food printing a form of art. It's easy to see why.

The ChefJet Pro is targeted towards upscale culinary experts, using powdered sugars and flavored water to create sweets in a variety of dynamic shapes and colors.

The ChefJet Pro has a variety of patterns memorized, allowing for some insane, edible patterns that aren't possible by hand.

One drawback is that the Chef Jet Pro prints fairly slowly, estimated at about an inch per hour. As the technology evolves, however, they believe there will be less of a wait.

Another drawback is the price tag. The Chef Jet Pro costs upwards of $7,000.

The Foodini food printer is less steep and priced for households at roughly $2,000. The noodles and tomato sauce below are printed, with the simple garnish added on.

Foodini is specifically designed for use with organic, local made ingredients. Even dishes with multiple ingredients, like these burgers, are easily printed.

Natural Machines, which designed Foodini, is based in Barcelona and consumers in more than 80 countries have expressed interest in the device.

Not all the pre-programmed shapes have to be complex; these are 3D Printed goldfish crackers.

Although this is very modern technology, Natural Machine believes people will eventually prefer it to processed foods and says it is the future of food.

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know