Fast food is set to be faster than ever, following the creation of a vending machine that cooks and serves fresh fries.
Caenator, a Netherlands-based startup, designed the fully automatic machine in a collaboration with Start Life and Wageningen University and Research Centre, where it served its first batch of delicious deep-fried potato earlier this month.
The machine, which is operated using a 32-inch colour touchscreen, contains a freezer box with enough room for 25kg of frozen chips, which are dropped directly into an internal deep fat fryer as soon as someone places an order.
It then takes just under two minutes for the chips to be deep fried at temperatures of more than 170 degrees C, before the tasty treats are served in a paper cup. You can then pick your optional condiment of choice -- ketchup, mayonnaise or curry sauce -- and dig in, with salt and a plastic fork supplied in a separate box.
The company claims that the whole process isn't noisy or smelly -- thanks to the system's in-built cleaning system -- and costs just one euro (around 70p) for a large serving.
Caenator's Bastiaan Roest commented that the vending machine, which can operate around the clock and make a profit if it dispenses at least 40 portions of fries daily, has already attracted interest from various worldwide businesses.
He said in a statement: "Caterers and bar and restaurant owners see the machine as a way to retain or increase their turnover. Public transport companies see the machine as a way to make waiting less annoying. For various budget hotels, it is a way to offer a service to their guests 24/7."
So will we be able to get our hands on some freshly vended fries anytime soon? Its makers have applied for two patents for the machine, and are currently trialling it with members of the public, so it's possible -- but for now you'll have to stick with fries cooked by plain old human beings. Yuck.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
