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
Penelope CasasAt a restaurant, some unlucky prep cook gets to peel, slice, and caramelize bags of onions in the morning.—Stephanie Alleyne
Stephanie Alleyne2
intransitive
: to change to caramel
Fructose begins to rapidly caramelize at around 200 degrees …—Matthew Card
: to undergo caramelization
Matthew CardThese sweet potatoes caramelize slightly in the oven, which gives them a sweet crunch as their flesh remains creamy.—Lesley Porcelli
Lesley PorcelliExamples 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
Fromage Croissant Toast: Features melty provolone and American cheeses, caramelized onions, arugula, and garlic aioli.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 May 2025
This slow-cooking method, often passed over by more industrialized distilleries in favor of high-pressure autoclaves or diffusers, allows the natural sugars to caramelize gently, preserving the earthy, rich characteristics of the plant.
—Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
One of the new breakfast choices is the duck hash, which combines duck egg, confit duck, confit potatoes and caramelized onions.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
Fromage Croissant Toast: Melty provolone and American cheeses, caramelized onions, arugula, and garlic aioli transform a simple classic into something extraordinary.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caramelize
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Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 May 2025
This slow-cooking method, often passed over by more industrialized distilleries in favor of high-pressure autoclaves or diffusers, allows the natural sugars to caramelize gently, preserving the earthy, rich characteristics of the plant.
—Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
One of the new breakfast choices is the duck hash, which combines duck egg, confit duck, confit potatoes and caramelized onions.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
Fromage Croissant Toast: Melty provolone and American cheeses, caramelized onions, arugula, and garlic aioli transform a simple classic into something extraordinary.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caramelize
Cite this Entry
“Caramelize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caramelize. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
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