The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of chitosan coatings in the osmotic dehydration of
scalded cut papaya var. Red Maradol in two ripening stages (green and ripped). Papaya cubic cuts
(1 cm3) were divided into three groups depending on the treatments: without chitosan coatings; with
chitosan coatings at 1% (w/v) in lactic acid 1% (v/v) and Tween 80 at 0.1% (v/v); and with chitosan coatings
at 1% (w/v) in lactic acid 1% (v/v), Tween 80 at 0.1% (v/v) and oleic acid at 2% (v/v). The study of dehydration
kinetics and mass transfer was carried out with osmotic solution of sucrose (40Brix) in a ratio
fruit/solution of 1:60, and weight reduction, water loss and solids gain were measured. Chitosan coatings
improved the efficiency of osmotic dehydration process in both ripening stages, increasing the water loss
and decreasing the solids gain.