caramelize

American  

[kar-uh-muh-lahyz, kahr-muh-] / ˈkær ə məˌlaɪz, ˈkɑr mə- /

especially British, caramelise

verb (used with or without object)

caramelized, caramelizing

1. to convert or be converted into caramel.

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caramelize British  

/ ˈkærəməˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to convert or be converted into caramel

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Other Word Forms

• caramelization noun
• uncaramelized adjective

Etymology

Origin of caramelize

First recorded in 1720–30; caramel + -ize

Explanation

To caramelize is to slowly cook a food until it turns sweet, nutty, and brown. You can also caramelize pure sugar, or cook it until it melts, becoming golden-brown, sweet, and thick. When a cook caramelizes chopped onion, she gently cooks it in butter or oil, usually for a long time at a low temperature, until the sugars in the onion begin to brown and become very sweet. She caramelizes sugar by cooking it until it melts and reaches a certain temperature. The verb caramelize comes from caramel, or "burnt sugar" in French.

Example Sentences

Brown it deeply, until the edges caramelize and the fat renders into the pan.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

The sun-dried tomatoes caramelize, while the fresh cherries burst, rounding out the acidity with a backbone of umami.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2025

They will soften, and then turn golden, and then — quite a lot later — caramelize.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 13, 2024

Add the shallots and salt and let them caramelize slowly and gently, stirring occasionally, until they’re tender, sweet-tasting, and an appealing hazelnut brown, 15 to 25 minutes.

From Washington Times • May 24, 2023

Laughing as they chop onions and caramelize them with garam masala and turmeric and ginger and garlic, trying to replicate my nanni’s kheema.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed