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Extremely Cool 3D Printed Foods

The latest innovation in food technology doesn't really have anything to do with cooking. Creative minds in the engineering and food worlds are coming together to create the world's first 3D printers made just for food!
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3D Systems' sugar-based printers aren't just creating food, they're creating art. The sweet, edible creations from their printers look more like sculptures than candy. And though they're marketed toward pastry chefs and bakers, their ChefJef series of printers are small enough to fit on a countertop.
3D Systems
The latest innovation in food technology doesn't really have anything to do with cooking. Creative minds in the engineering and food worlds are coming together to create the world's first 3D printers made just for food! Check out some the latest printer models to come out on the market, as well as some of the most amazing and artistic printed food creations. If you want to learn more about some of the wackiest ways people around the world are celebrating food, check out this roundup of weirdly wonderful food festivals.
1

Custom Printed Sugar

3D Systems' sugar-based printers aren't just creating food, they're creating art. The sweet, edible creations from their printers look more like sculptures than candy. And though they're marketed toward pastry chefs and bakers, their ChefJef series of printers are small enough to fit on a countertop.
3D Systems
3D Systems' sugar-based printers aren't just creating food, they're creating art. The edible creations from their printers look more like sculptures than candy. And though they're marketed toward pastry chefs and bakers, the ChefJef series of printers (set to come out in late 2014) are small enough to fit on a countertop.
2

Sugar Skull

Perfect for a spooky Halloween party or festive Day of the Dead celebration, this intricate printed skull is made entirely out of sugar.
3D Systems and Josh Harker
Perfect for a spooky Halloween party or festive Day of the Dead celebration, this intricate printed skull is made entirely out of sugar.
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3

Sugar Cubes

Morning coffee gets a seriously beautiful pick-me-up with these sculptural constructions in pure sugar.
3D Systems
Morning coffee gets a seriously beautiful pick-me-up with these sculptural constructions in pure sugar.
4

Spinach Quiche Dinosaurs

Cute as a button, these adorable dinosaur-shaped quiches get their green color from healthy spinach — and in this form, the kids are sure to eat it right up.
Natural Machines
Cute as a button, these adorable dinosaur-shaped quiches get their green color from healthy spinach — and in this form, the kids are sure to eat them right up. The dinos were produced by a printer from Natural Machines, which will offer an economically-priced $1,300 food printer near the end of 2014.
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5

Fish and Chips

This may look nothing like the classic and beloved British dish, but though it comes in a different form, all of the same comforting flavors are still here — the green hexagons even hold the most traditional of British sides, mushy peas!
Natural Machines
This may look nothing like the classic and beloved British dish, but though it comes in a different form, all of the same comforting flavors are still here. The green hexagons even hold the most traditional of British sides, mushy peas!
6

Pizza

Natural Machines is making all kinds of other popular foods with its Foodini printer — if pasta isn't your thing, the machine can also make a pretty tasty-looking miniature pizza.
Natural Machines
Natural Machines is making all kinds of other popular foods with its Foodini printer — if pasta isn't your thing, the machine can also make a pretty tasty-looking miniature pizza.
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7

Ravioli

Made with the Foodini printer from Natural Machines, this ravioli comes out perfectly formed and shaped — all that's left is to quickly boil it, and this printed dish is ready to eat!
Natural Machines
Made with the Foodini printer from Natural Machines, this ravioli comes out perfectly formed and shaped — all that's left is to quickly boil it.
8

Cheese Shuttle

The brilliant folks behind the <a href="http://creativemachines.cornell.edu/node/194" target="_blank">Cornell Creative Machines Lab</a> experiment with many food-based printing projects, but this cheesy concoction — shaped like a space shuttle — has to be one of our favorites.
Cornell Creative Machines Lab
The brilliant folks behind the Cornell Creative Machines Lab experiment with many food-based printing projects, but this cheesy concoction — shaped like a space shuttle — has to be one of our favorites.
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9

Chocolate Letters and Decorations

U.K.-based company <a href="https://chocedge.com/index.php" target="_blank">ChocEdge</a> specializes in a machine that makes only chocolate-based creations, like these letters. (Can you guess what they're starting to spell?) The Choc Creator V1 printer retails at nearly £3,000, but for professional chocolatiers and food business owners, it may be well worth the investment.
Courtesy of ChocEdge LTD
U.K.-based company ChocEdge specializes in a machine that makes only chocolate-based creations, like these letters. (Can you guess what they're starting to spell?) The Choc Creator V1 printer retails at nearly £3,000, but for professional chocolatiers and food business owners it may be well worth the investment.
10

Snacks Made from Alternative Food Sources

One of the most touted benefits of 3D printed foods is that they make it possible to incorporate alternative food sources — like algae and insects — into easier-to-eat packages, like these spicy, crispy snacks, created by <a href="https://www.tno.nl/content.cfm?context=thema&content=prop_case&laag1=892&laag2=906&laag3=124&item_id=1866&Taal=2" target="_blank">TNO</a>.
photo: TNO
One of the most touted benefits of 3D printed foods is that they make it possible to incorporate alternative food sources — like algae and insects — into easier-to-eat packages, like these spicy, crispy snacks created by TNO.
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11

Goat Cheese Appetizers

First demonstrated at the <a href="http://www.makerfaireyyc.ca/" target="_blank">Calgary Mini Maker Faire</a>, Brian Queen 's process for 3D printing with food resulted in these gorgeous little goat cheese canapés, finished with a number of pretty and colorful fillings.
Faby Martin
First demonstrated at the Calgary Mini Maker Faire, Brian Queen's process for 3D printing food resulted in these gorgeous little goat cheese canapés finished with a number of colorful fillings.
12

Corn Chips

The <a href="http://creativemachines.cornell.edu/" target="_blank">Cornell Creative Machines Lab</a> came up with this creative take on the usually bland corn chip. The printer forms a masa-based dough into this beautifully swirling, flower-like pattern.
Jeffrey Lipton
The Cornell Creative Machines Lab came up with this creative take on the usually bland corn chip. The printer forms a masa-based dough into this beautifully swirling, flower-like pattern.
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13

Christmas Cookies

If you love prettily decorated Christmas cookies, but loathe spending all that time to cut out each one by hand, you'll be thrilled to know that the brilliant minds behind 3D food printing have a solution for that.
<a href="http://www.ralfholleis.com/" target="_blank">Ralf Holleis</a>
If you love prettily decorated Christmas cookies but loathe spending all that time cutting out each one by hand, you'll be thrilled to know that the brilliant minds behind 3D food printing have a solution for that.
14

ChefJet 3D Printer

The <a href="http://www.3dsystems.com/press-releases/3d-systems-sweetens-its-offering-new-chefjettm-3d-printer-series" target="_blank">ChefJet</a> 3D food printer is sleek and compact. Though it won't be cheap, this series of printers, set to come out on the market in late 2014, is made with professionals in mind.
3D Systems
Have a look at the sleek and compact ChefJet 3D food printer, set to come out on the market in late 2014.
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15

Foodini 3D Food Printer

From a company called Natural Machines, this more economically priced food printer will be available to purchase near the end of 2014. Though still out of reach for many average consumers (it will be priced around €1,000, or about $1,300), it costs less than many other professionally geared models coming out on the market.
Natural Machines
This is the printer from Natural Machines that will only set you back €1,000, or about $1,300, when it comes out in late 2014.
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