Abstract: Food additive manufacturing technology has advantages such as personalized customization, efficient use of raw materials, and functional design, but also faces challenges such as poor material printability and low product stability during post-processing. Thanks to the advantages of convenience, high popularity, safety, high efficiency and non-contact nature, microwave processing provides a solution to the challenges in food additive manufacturing. This paper analyzes and summarizes the application of microwave processing in the field of food additive manufacturing. First, it introduces the application of microwave as pre-processing, auxiliary forming and post-processing means for resolving the issues of poor printability, forming difficulties and poor stability encountered in three-dimensional food additive manufacturing. Then, the fundamental principles behind the fact that microwave stimulation induces shape, color, flavor, and nutritional changes in four-dimensional food additive manufacturing are elucidated. Finally, the future trends and development ideas of microwave processing in food additive manufacturing are envisioned, with the aim of providing a reference for the new food manufacturing industry.

Key words: microwave; additive manufacturing; food processing; 3D printing; 4D printing