Starch-Based Coatings for Food Preservation: A Review

Starch-based coatings (SC) are materials used to extend the shelf life and preserve the quality of foods during storage. Several approaches such as panning, fluidized bed, dipping, and spraying can be used to apply SC on foods. In general, SC are produced using gelatinized starch in water, in the presence of plasticizers, however, mixtures of starches with other macromolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids also have been investigated aiming to manufacture SC with improved physicochemical properties. Recently, SC containing antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds have been used to reduce lipid oxidation, ripening, and microbial growth in foods. This review article focuses on the analysis of the state of the art available in the 10 last years and is related to the production and food application of SC. It is expected that this review can elucidate the recent trends of SC, encouraging future studies to expand the production and application of SC in the food sector.