Shape a Xiao Long Bao With Our 3D-printed Xiao Long Bao Shaper!

Hi! We are Vig., a group made up of 5 freshmen in Joint Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the University of Michigan. In this article, we are going to introduce how to make Xiao Long Bao using our Xiao Long Bao shaper which we made in our course Introduction to Engineering. With our shaper, even cooking beginners are able to shape Xiao Long Bao efficiently!

Have you ever tasted a Xiao Long Bao?

Xiao Long Bao is a famous traditional pastry food in China, originated in Changzhou Prefecture, Jiangsu Province in the Qing Dynasty, which is known for its paper-thin skin, rivers of hot and flavorful broth, and fresh as well as delicious taste. As CNN states, Xiao Long Bao is the second of the ten best cuisines in the world as a snack in China form the result of research.

Why we designed a machine to shape Xiao Long Bao?

However, this delicious food rarely can be found outside China. People living out of China have few chances to taste it and Chinese living abroad possibly need to make Xiao Long Bao by themselves when missing its taste. But the most important procedure of making Xiao Long Bao, shaping Xiao Long Bao is very hard for beginners. Inappropriately wrapping Xiao Long Bao not only leads to bad appearance, but also makes the skin easy to break, which leads to broth leaking and makes it much less tasty!

Thus, our group designed and manufactured an available, portable and easily operated machine that can help make Xiao Long Bao through simple button operation, thus realizing the automation of making Xiao Long Bao. In this way, not only the production efficiency can be improved, but also the production difficulty can be reduced, so that more ordinary families, especially who live in area where Xiao Long Bao is not easily available, can enjoy the delicious Xiao Long Bao.

Now, print your own shaper and enjoy the process of making Xiao Long Bao!!

Supplies

For 3D printing Xiao Long Bao shaper

3D printer and food safe filament (PLA)
10 Screw M3*18
1 Screw M3*35
10 Nut steel column M3*40 Outside diameter = 6 mm
1 Hex nut M3

For making Xiao Long Bao (recipe from the Spruce Eats)

For the Aspic

1 medium scallion
1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided
1 dried shiitake mushroom
1 (1/4 inch thick) slice ginger root
3/4 ounce plain gelatin (3 packets)

For the Dough

1/2 cup 195 F water
3 1/2 cups (458 grams) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for dusting
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons room temperature water
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

For the Mince

1 pound ground pork, preferably 80/20 lean to fat ratio
1 tablespoon minced scallion
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root
2 tablespoons Shaoxing rice wine
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
3 teaspoons (9 grams) Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt
3 teaspoons sugar
1/16 teaspoon white pepper

Step 1: Print the Parts

We used PLA with different colors.

You can make it with any color you want.

Layer 0.3mm, infill 15% for everything.

Step 2: Assembling

Our shape consists of two parts:

Pressing part (to make the dough into pocket-shape) and rotation part (to seal and to pleat the dough).

Assemble the pressing part:

Connect pressing cylinder and support using a screw (M3*35 mm).

Assemble the rotation part:

a) Attach steel columns (M3*40 mm) to the chassis with screws (M3*18 mm). Place the chassis on the shell.

b) Put the turnplate above the chassis.

c) Put blades over the steel columns attached to the chassis.

Connect the two parts together. Then the shaper is done!

Step 3: Prepare the Dough and the Filling for Xiao Long Bao

Prepare all the ingredients. Follow this recipe: Xiao Long Bao Recipe (Soup Dumplings) by Brian Yong, to Prepare the Aspic, Make Dough, Prepare the Mince, Prepare the Filling, and Prepare Dumpling Dough.