Applications of physical and chemical treatments in plant‐based gels for food 3D printing

Abstract

Extrusion‐based three‐dimensional (3D) printing has been extensively studied in the food manufacturing industry. This technology places particular emphasis on the rheological properties of the printing ink. Gel system is the most suitable ink system and benefits from the composition of plant raw materials and gel properties of multiple components; green, healthy aspects of the advantages of the development of plant‐based gel system has achieved a great deal of attention. However, the relevant treatment technologies are still only at the laboratory stage. With a view toward encouraging further optimization of ink printing performance and advances in this field, in this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the application of diverse plant‐based gel systems in 3D food printing and emphasize the utilization of different treatment methods to enhance the printability of these gel systems. The treatment technologies described in this review are categorized into three distinct groups, physical, chemical, and physicochemical synergistic treatments. We comprehensively assess the specific application of these technologies in various plant‐based gel 3D printing systems and present valuable insights regarding the challenges and opportunities for further advances in this field.

Towards the development of foods 3D printer: Trends and technologies for foods printing

“…Intelligent design algorithms can create complex food structures that use minimal resources while maximizing nutritional content and sensory appeal [ 30 , 147 ]. AI also facilitates the use of alternative protein sources, such as plant-based or insect-based proteins [ 59 ], which can be precisely incorporated into 3D-printed foods to meet dietary requirements and sustainability goals [ 26 ].…”

“… Plant-Based Inks: For plant-based inks, such as those derived from vegetables and fruits, ensuring the removal of soil and pesticide residues is critical. Washing and pre-treatment of raw materials enhance the safety of plant-based 3D food inks ([ 59 , 68 , 76 , 76 , 95 ]. Meat-Based Inks: The use of meat-based inks requires stringent control of microbial contamination.…”