Fruit-Based Leathers: A Comprehensive Review of Terminologies, Composition, and Quality Attributes

Abstract

Fruit-based leathers were obtained from drying fruit purees, offering a high nutritional value and convenience in consumption, storage, and transportation. Challenges in advancing leather studies are being observed due to the various terminologies used to describe similar products. This review aims to systematically analyze the terminologies used in the literature and explore the effects of different ingredients on fruit-based leather development, focusing on bioactive compounds and sensory and texture properties. The Iramuteq® Software was utilized to categorize the most common terminologies. The review also examined the impact of ingredient incorporation, such as sugars and hydrocolloids, on fruit leathers' physical, chemical, and nutritional characteristics and their influence on sensory attributes and color. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights for future research in fruit-based leathers.