caramelize

verb

car·​a·​mel·​ize ˈkär-mə-ˌlīz 

ˈker-ə-mə-, 

ˈka-rə-mə-

caramelized; caramelizing

1

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

2

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

Lightly caramelizing the pumpkin in the pot along with tomato paste gives it a nutty, savory edge. — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026

In batches, carefully add the plantain slices and fry until the edges caramelize, about 5 minutes per side. — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 4 Oct. 2026

The edges caramelized and got nice and crispy—almost candied—while the centers stayed pleasantly soft. — Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026

Roasting brings out its sweetness and adds depth, transforming it from bland to rich and slightly caramelized. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for caramelize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize