caramelize

verb

car·a·mel·ize ˈkär-mə-ˌlīz

ˈker-ə-mə-,

ˈka-rə-mə-

caramelized; caramelizing

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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Glazing the steaks before cooking may cause the glaze to thicken and caramelize. —

Liz Mervosh, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2024 Mixed with those are notes of caramel, tobacco, caramelized brown sugar, and subtle but noticeable layers of baking spice and black pepper. —

Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2024 Toasting the barrels caramelizes some of the sugars that naturally occur in the wood, and as the bourbon ages, imparts more flavor and color than barrels that have simply been charred. —

Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 17 Dec. 2024 The Bacon Melt layers two Whopper Jr. patties with American cheese, crispy bacon, caramelized onions and Stacker Sauce. —

Gil MacIas, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for caramelize