Edible Coatings to Enhance Shelf Life of Fruits and Vegetables: A Mini-Review

Abstract: Recently, edible coatings or films have gained significant importance in fruit and vegetable preservation. This review summarises edible coatings, the classification of coating materials, formulation procedures, and the benefits of active edible coating. Studies reported that edible coating or films from natural resources benefit the consumer as well as the environment. In general, edible coatings or films are a combination of polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and plasticizers, used to enhance the functional properties and the general quality parameters of fruits and vegetables, such as texture, colour, acidity, total soluble solids, thus preventing their browning and oxidation. Casting (wet process) and extrusion (dry process) are two prominent methods used to fabricate edible thin films. General techniques for applying edible coatings are dipping, spraying, coating, panning, using a fluidized bed, and film wrapping. Active edible coatings or films are developed with herbal extracts to improve the functional properties, i.e., antioxidant and antimicrobial. Therefore, based on the literature review, future research exploration will focus on underutilized edible natural resources, along with some natural edible plasticizers used to improve the postharvest quality of fruits and vegetables without affecting their nutritional, organoleptic, and sensory attributes. The primary objective of the present review was to summarize the different types of edible coatings with an infusion of herbal extracts and their application on fruits and vegetables.