caramelize
To caramelize something means to cook it slowly over low heat until it turns golden brown and develops a sweet, sticky flavor.
When we talk about caramelizing food, we usually think of cooking sugar or onions. If you're making a stir-fry, you might need to caramelize the onions before adding them to the dish - that's when they turn from raw and crunchy into soft, sweet, and deliciously brown. Some people also use this word for other foods like bell peppers or mushrooms, which can get a similar flavor if cooked slowly over low heat. But caramelizing is especially great for sugar because it melts and turns into a syrupy, golden liquid - that's what makes caramel candies so tasty!
How common is "caramelize"?
Word caramelize is considered rare in modern English.
It appears most frequently in newspaper texts and less often in other writings.
It appears most frequently in newspaper texts and less often in other writings.
Definitions
verb
To convert (sugar) into caramel.
Real examples of "caramelize" in context
