caramelize

verb

car·​a·​mel·​ize ˈkär-mə-ˌlīz 

ˈker-ə-mə-,

ˈka-rə-mə-

caramelized; caramelizing

1

transitive : to subject (sugar or the sugar content of a food) to caramelization : to change into caramel (see caramel sense 1) by heating at high temperature

… flan bathed in caramelized sugar and topped with whipped cream …

—Penelope Casas

At a restaurant, some unlucky prep cook gets to peel, slice, and caramelize bags of onions in the morning.

—Stephanie Alleyne

2

intransitive : to change to caramel

Fructose begins to rapidly caramelize at around 200 degrees …

—Matthew Card

: to undergo caramelization

These sweet potatoes caramelize slightly in the oven, which gives them a sweet crunch as their flesh remains creamy.

—Lesley Porcelli

Examples of caramelize in a Sentence

The onions will take five minutes to caramelize.

Caramelize two cups of sugar.

Continue stirring until the sugar caramelizes.

Recent Examples on the Web

To be fair, this super-savory onion side dish does benefit from a few minutes under the broiler at the end of cooking for a crispy, caramelized top. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024

Pastrami Cheesesteak, packed with pastrami, provolone and muenster cheeses, caramelized onions, red peppers and chipotle mayo in a soft challah roll, served with french fries and a pickle ($14.99). —Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2024

Brush on some teriyaki sauce, then use either the oven broiler or a handheld torch to caramelize the sauce onto the meat. —Peter Burke, Fox News, 10 Nov. 2024

Cook, stirring often, until tomato paste starts to caramelize, about 3 minutes. —Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1