Research Progress of Fruit Paper Drying Technology

Fruit paper is a paper-shaped snack made from fresh fruit after pulping, boiling and drying. Drying, one of the oldest methods for food preservation, removes water from fruit and extends its shelf-life for year-round consumption. The most commonly used drying methods include hot air drying, vacuum drying, freeze drying, and their combinations. The energy efficiency of drying process and the quality of fruit paper are both important to be considered in fruit pulp drying. This article updates the research status of drying technologies applied in fruit paper production, including hot air drying, freeze drying, vacuum drying, microwave drying, infrared radiation drying, and refraction window drying. In addition, the influence of the pretreatments and drying process on fruit paper's shape, texture, and nutrients are also summarized. This work aims to improve the drying efficiency of fruit paper and retain the active ingredients of fruit to the maximum extent, and to provide reference for further research on drying processing of fruit paper in food industry.