caramelize

verb

car·​a·​mel·​ize ˈkär-mə-ˌlīz How to pronounce caramelize (audio)
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 Green chili queso smash burger, made with a third-pound smash burger patty, hatch chile, pepper jack cheese, caramelized onion and chipotle aioli on a local pretzel bun. Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024 Fried chicken wings are drenched in a sweet-spicy, caramelized fish sauce glaze and cocktails wink at the tropics of Vietnam with spirits made from sugar cane and agave, like rums and tequilas, blended with tropical fruits, such as hibiscus, pineapple and tamarind. Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024 This step caramelizes the meat, which builds flavor in the braising liquid and lends depth to the stew. Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, chickpeas, tomatoes, olive oil and a warming combination of cinnamon, ginger and marjoram concentrate until the chickpeas are buttery-soft and the tomatoes caramelized. Ali Slagle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 The magic oven temperature is 425 degrees, hot enough to caramelize outsides but not so hot that ingredients will burn before the interior cooks through. Ali Slagle, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 The grapes caramelize in the oven and add a subtle sweetness to the sauce, which is made from the juices and browned bits on the sheet pan. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2024 The soup is finished with sweet Maui onions caramelized in butter and some veal stock. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024 Crispy, smoky sprouts contrast beautifully with sweet tangles of jammy caramelized onions. The Indianapolis Star, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'caramelize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of caramelize was in 1837

Dictionary Entries Near caramelize

Cite this Entry

“Caramelize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caramelize. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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