Some authors have recently reported that pectin coatings on papaya slices increased the moisture
diffusion coefficient due to the hydrophilic character of pectins while enhancing the retention of vitamin
C, resulting in a significant protective effect against nutritional losses [84]. Pectin coatings were also
applied to osmotic dehydrated pineapple in sucrose (50%)/calcium lactate (4%)/ascorbic acid (2%)
solutions before the application of the hot-air-drying method [85]. Results showed that pectin edible
coatings were effective as oxygen barrier and did not affect the drying efficiency and the water diffusion
coefficient. However, dried pineapples coated with pectins showed high retention of vitamin C and
slightly changed their lightness. Pectin-based coatings (2% w/w) with and without vitamin C (1% w/w)
were also applied to papaya slices before air-drying without reducing the efficiency of the dehydration
process [86]. Authors observed that the incorporation of vitamin C on pectin coatings reduced its retention in dried samples after 30 days of storage, while increased significantly the vitamin C content
in the final product. In addition, sensorial analysis confirmed that the pectin + vitamin C coating can be
used as pre-drying treatment of papaya slices.