It sounds like something which people assumed would be commonplace by the 21st century, and not too dissimilar to the food hydrators seen in Back to The Future.

But NASA is investing €125,000 in essentially just that, after seeing it’s application in printing a piece of chocolate.

The machine would be loaded with cartridges consisting of powder that would make up the basic building-blocks a foodstuff.

Based on existing 3D printer technology, a food printer could have a wide range of applications, with the creator interested in easing food shortages around the world.

It could also be used to enable long-distance space travel, as this powdered food could last for up as long as 30 years.

3D printers have already been used to create hundreds of items, most controversially a fully-working gun.

The next step in this Anjan’s food printer? He plans to print some pizza.