Laser Cutter

[Anonymous Modernist 3840]

Does anyone have experience using a laser cutter to cut or modify food? I will be participating in a "food hacking saturday" at the Madison, WI makerspace this weekend. I will be working with sous vides, centrifuges, LN2, dry ice, modified charcoal grilling, ultrasonic baths, etc...all per MC. My question is: Does anyone have ideas for foods that we could cut with our laser cutter. I have heard that cutting rice krispy treats produced less than ideal results, as the edges were burned and blackened. I would think that thinner and colder would be better for the food to cut. Maybe laser etched creme brulee? Also lower energy dense food would likely burn less. What do you think?

[Anonymous Modernist 3840]

Does anyone have experience using a laser cutter to cut or modify food? I will be participating in a "food hacking saturday" at the Madison, WI makerspace this weekend. I will be working with sous vides, centrifuges, LN2, dry ice, modified charcoal grilling, ultrasonic baths, etc...all per MC. My question is: Does anyone have ideas for foods that we could cut with our laser cutter. I have heard that cutting rice krispy treats produced less than ideal results, as the edges were burned and blackened. I would think that thinner and colder would be better for the food to cut. Maybe laser etched creme brulee? Also lower energy dense food would likely burn less. What do you think?

[Judy Wilson]

Hi CJM,

We once laser-etched Jimmy Kimmel's face on an omelet. You can see the video in this post (third video): http://modernistcuisine.com/2012/02/jimmy-kimmel-cryofrying-and-how-to-make-a-laser-omelet/

Let us know how it goes!

[Judy Wilson]

Hi CJM,

We once laser-etched Jimmy Kimmel's face on an omelet. You can see the video in this post (third video): http://modernistcuisine.com/2012/02/jimmy-kimmel-cryofrying-and-how-to-make-a-laser-omelet/

Let us know how it goes!

[Anonymous Modernist 3840]

Thanks for the link. I want to try to laser etch people's faces on tortillas and use them to mark their seating arrangement by placing them on their plates.

[Anonymous Modernist 3840]

Thanks for the link. I want to try to laser etch people's faces on tortillas and use them to mark their seating arrangement by placing them on their plates.

[Anonymous Modernist 3840]

At our food event we used the laser cutter to etch/toast images into bread slices. It created an interesting 3D effect.

[Anonymous Modernist 3840]

At our food event we used the laser cutter to etch/toast images into bread slices. It created an interesting 3D effect.

[Anonymous Modernist 3840]

Other members of our maker group made laser cut gingerbread houses. Here is the link with pictures: http://www.sector67.org/blog/2012/sector67-laser-cut-gingerbread-houses/

Here is another link with another picture: http://hackaday.com/2012/12/17/more-details-about-laser-cut-gingerbread-houses/

And now WIRED Magazine has linked to it: http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/12/laser-cut-gingerbread-house

[Anonymous Modernist 3840]

Other members of our maker group made laser cut gingerbread houses. Here is the link with pictures: http://www.sector67.org/blog/2012/sector67-laser-cut-gingerbread-houses/

Here is another link with another picture: http://hackaday.com/2012/12/17/more-details-about-laser-cut-gingerbread-houses/

And now WIRED Magazine has linked to it: http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/12/laser-cut-gingerbread-house

[Sam Fahey-Burke]

Hi CJM,

Sorry for the late response, but it looks like everything went well for you!

We‚’ve cut a lot of things with the laser. Things that are flat and thin tend to work best. We‚’ve made snowflakes out of brik pastry, and we‚’ve cut letters and numbers out of thinly sliced carrots and radishes. As Judy noted, Scott used the laser to etch a face onto an omelet sheet once, too. As a general rule, cook your foods after laser etching because doing so will help dissipate any burnt flavors.

Sam

[Sam Fahey-Burke]

Hi CJM,

Sorry for the late response, but it looks like everything went well for you!

We‚’ve cut a lot of things with the laser. Things that are flat and thin tend to work best. We‚’ve made snowflakes out of brik pastry, and we‚’ve cut letters and numbers out of thinly sliced carrots and radishes. As Judy noted, Scott used the laser to etch a face onto an omelet sheet once, too. As a general rule, cook your foods after laser etching because doing so will help dissipate any burnt flavors.

Sam