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

Domaine Faiveley 2021 Corton Clos de Cortons comes from a very unique walled vineyard and has aromas of pomegranate, red raspberry, cherry, and brown baking spices that transition to delightful flavors of cranberry, cherry, and caramelized orange peel wrapped in a velvety tannic sheath. —Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 28 Nov. 2025

Bake at 425°F until tender and caramelized, about 30 minutes, tossing twice during baking. —Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025

The wedges roast until caramelized and tender, then get layered over a tangy bed of citrusy yogurt that cuts through their sweetness. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025

Continue adding brown sugar and cooking until all the sugar is liquid and caramelized. —Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2025

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