#HTE

Reader Submitted: Pezt: Normalizing Insects in the Kitchens

Insects are an extremely efficient and healthy source of daily protein and nutrients, already historically consumed by 80% of the world’s cultures - but uptake has been slow in the western world. Why is this?

Pezt attempts to normalize insects in the kitchen - as with most fears, our distaste from insects come from familiarity. We simply aren’t familiar enough with eating insects, especially in the form that they currently exist. By taking traditional mealworm-farming techniques and compressing them into a white-goods appliance, we can understand and better relate to the facts of insect consumption instead of letting phobias rule our eating habits. 90% reduction in waste feed, 93% reduction in land use, and a 99.95% reduction in water usage.

The mealworm travel through the machine via stacked trays, connected with louvre. A pressure heater and water is used for sterilisation.

The Pezt is designed with only surface-level interaction, so as that you cannot see any of the insects inside, until they are dispensed at the end of the growing process.

A small pack of meal-worm pupae are added to the Pezt to initiate the growing process.