3D printed protein paste mimics animal fat

In the search for the perfect vegetarian burger or steak, fat plays a major role. The animal fat in meat has a certain creaminess and mouth feel that seems difficult to replace. Researchers at Wageningen University & Research now know how to imitate the structure of lard with a 3D printed paste of vegetable oil and pea protein. The solution is natural, cheap and sustainable. The next step is to perfect the taste as a basis for juicy meat substitutes. A paper on the research was recently published on Advanced Functional Materials.

White filtered lard

"We were experimenting with different structures and then the 3D printer came around the corner. With it, it is possible to create shapes that have the same structure as the animal fats we are trying to replace," the researchers say.

Next step

The researchers are working together with the meat replacement industry. The cooperation focuses on the tasteful processing of the fatty protein paste in vegetable 'meat'. The possibilities of creating fat fibres and adding vitamins are also being investigated further.

wur.nl