Abstract: Nowadays, the requirements of dietary structure are improved with the continuous improvement of people’s living standard, and the food safety problem has become one of the focal point. However, chemical preservatives are no longer sufficient to meet needs of consumers regarding their safety, health, and greenness. Antimicrobial properties of plant-originated essential oils have attracted more and more attention due to their remarkably antimicrobial effects, non-toxic and non-residue characteristics. Therefore, application of essential oils in fruit preservation has become a hot topic. This article first reviews antimicrobial performance of plant-originated essential oils incorporating with their antimicrobial mechanisms. Subsequently, applications of essential oils in the preservation of foods are summarized. Limitations of essential oils were listed and corresponding potential solutions are lastly provided, in order to provide reference for the development of natural food preservatives and the application of plant-originated essential oils in food preservation.