How to Caramelize Onions (Why It Takes So Long), by The Homebased Foodie on YouTube. 1 min 4 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 4 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Peel the onions and cut them in half through the root. Slice each half into thin, even strips about 3 mm wide so they cook at the same rate.
Set a wide, heavy pan over medium to medium-low heat and add a knob of butter or 2 tablespoons of oil. Let it melt and coat the base.
Add the onions with a pinch of salt. Spread them into an even layer. A crowded pan steams instead of browning, so use a bigger pan or cook in batches.
Leave them alone for the first 5 minutes. Stir only every few minutes after that, scraping the base so nothing sticks and burns.
Keep the heat low. If the edges darken before the onions soften, turn the heat down and add a splash of water to cool the pan.
Cook for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions shrink a lot, turn soft and take on a deep golden brown color.
Taste and add more salt if needed. Use the onions right away on burgers, sandwiches or soup, or cool and store them.
Tips and common mistakes
Rushing with high heat burns the edges while the middle stays raw, so keep the pan at medium-low.
Even slices matter more than fancy knife work, since thick and thin pieces brown at different speeds.
A splash of water rescues onions that start to catch, and the moisture cooks off as they continue.
Caramelized onions keep in the fridge for about 4 days in a sealed container.
Questions
Why do caramelized onions take so long?
The onions release water first, and that water has to cook off before browning can start. Only then do the natural sugars brown and turn sweet, which takes 30 to 45 minutes on low heat.
Can I speed it up with higher heat?
Not much. Higher heat browns the outside before the inside softens, so you get burnt, crunchy onions. A slightly wider pan and even slices speed things up more safely.
Which onions work best?
Yellow or white onions are the usual choice because they are sweet and cheap. Red onions work too but turn a darker, less golden color.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
