A Comparative Study of Commercial 3D Printers for Food Fabrication Based on Printing Ink Gels

The increasing awareness of dietary health among residents has pushed the development of the food industry towards the field of personalized, nutrition-balanced and specific foods to cater to the demands of special populations, including children, elders, obese people and vegetarians. In recent years, 3D food printing technology has gained increasing attention due to its great potential in the preparation of personalized and nutrition-balanced foods. In this study, four types of 3D food printing technology, including extrusion-based printing technology, inkjet printing technology, binder jet printing technology and selective laser sintering printing technology, are illustrated in detail to compare their mechanisms, procedures, merits and applications. Among these 3D printing technologies, extrusion-based printing technology is dominant over other types of 3D food printing technologies. In addition, various commercial 3D printer devices based on different printing ink gels are presented in detail, and their application in different food preparations, such as chocolate, biscuits, candy, and coffee, is demonstrated, indicating the status and future of 3D food printing technology. In conclusion, 3D food printing is a promising direction for future trends of food development, allowing for the manufacture of personalized and nutrition-balanced food, diversification of food production and co-participation in food preparation.