Caramelized onions are a tasty topping that add a rich sweetness and savory umami depth to any dish. Whether on a burger or sandwich in a salad or sprinkled over pizza caramelized onions are an instant flavor boost.
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
 America's Test Kitchen | 2018-03-21 14:00:47 |  710,941 Views |
How to Caramelize Onions in Record Time Without Losing an Ounce of Flavor
The problem with caramelized onions however is the time it takes to cook them. But you can caramelize onions much faster with a simple steaming technique. It may sound counterintuitive but by adding water to the pan you can cut the caramelization time in half or more to about 30 minutes.
To caramelize properly you need to slowly cook your onions in a hot pan with lots of oil or butter. This allows the sugars to caramelize and the Maillard reaction to do its work turning your onions from translucent to golden to brown. But sometimes you don’t have an hour or more to watch your pan (and FYI that popular baking soda shortcut to speed up the process doesn’t work). This steaming trick is the perfect way to get caramelized onions in no time.
This simple technique is great because it speeds up the process without sacrificing flavor. It works by creating steam that softens the raw onions much faster than the hot pan alone. This allows them to brown much faster. Simply add a small amount of water to the pan with the onions and cover the pan with a lid to trap the steam. Bring the water to a boil and cook until most of it has evaporated.
