caramelize

[ kar-uh-muh-lahyz, kahr-muh- ]

/ ˈkær ə məˌlaɪz, ˈkɑr mə- /

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verb (used with or without object), car·a·mel·ized, car·a·mel·iz·ing.

to convert or be converted into caramel.

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Also especially British, car·a·mel·ise .

Origin of caramelize

First recorded in 1720–30; caramel + -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM caramelize

car·a·mel·i·za·tion, nounun·car·a·mel·ized, adjective

Words nearby caramelize

carageen, Caramanlis, caramba, carambola, caramel, caramelize, carangid, carangoid, carapa, carapace, carat

How to use caramelize in a sentence

In the sauce, raisins plump up and soak in the flavor of tomato paste, shallots turn dark and caramelized, and sardines bring a balancing brininess.
Six Recipes That Got Us Through Another Week|Eater Staff|March 19, 2021|Eater
The tomatoes cooked as if they were roasting and caramelizing, turning into sauce, but then there was a cake, so it was this very confusing experience of a savory thing on top of a sweet.
The Stars of Netflix’s ‘Waffles + Mochi’ Make the New Show a Delightful Watch|Jenny G. Zhang|March 19, 2021|Eater
The sauce — made by caramelizing sugar, then adding soy sauce — gets made to order, and it sweetens chicken that’s twice fried.
At Lucky Danger, two talented chefs just want to have fun with their American Chinese food|Tom Sietsema|March 19, 2021|Washington Post
Maybe you’re working with a two-inch pork chop, a cauliflower steak the size of a brick, or large chunks of onion that take a little longer to soften before they caramelize.
Don’t Fear the Broiler|Elazar Sontag|February 11, 2021|Eater

As the meat cooked, the vegetables steamed and caramelized slightly underneath.
Give in to pandemic cravings, starting with a homemade cheesesteak sandwich|David Hagedorn|December 10, 2020|Washington Post
Caramelize half the sugar and add to it the 1/2 cupful of boiling water.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 4|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Caramelize 1/2 cupful of the sugar, add the water, and cook until the caramel has dissolved.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 4|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
When all the water has boiled away, the sugar begins to caramelize or become brown, and develops a characteristic flavor.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 1|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Caramelize one cup of the sugar and add two cups of water to dissolve.
Quantity Cookery|Lenore Richards
Caramelize the sugar, add the hot water and pour over the softened gelatin.
Quantity Cookery|Lenore Richards

British Dictionary definitions for caramelize

caramelize

caramelise

/ (ˈkærəməˌlaɪz) /

verb

to convert or be converted into caramel

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012