Is caramelize the same as brown?

Not exactly. Brown is general, but caramelize means brown with sweet flavor from cooking.

Can I use caramelize for onions?

Yes. It is very common for onions cooked slowly until soft and brown.

Is caramelize a cooking word?

Yes. It is mainly used in cooking and recipes.

How do you use caramelize in a sentence?

You can say, 'Caramelize the onions before adding the sauce.'

← Dictionary

caramelize

/ˈkær.ə.mə.laɪz/

IELTSAcademic

verb

To heat sugar until it turns brown and has a sweet, rich flavor. You can also caramelize onions or fruit by cooking them slowly until they brown and taste sweeter.

Caramelize the sugar until it turns golden brown.
The onions caramelize after twenty minutes.
She caramelized the apples for dessert.

Adinary Nuance

Caramelize is more specific than brown. Brown only means to become brown, but caramelize usually means slow cooking with sugar or natural sugars. It is also stronger and more precise than toast, which often means a lighter color change. Use caramelize when the sweet, rich flavor matters.

In other languages

Vietnamese: làm caramen
Spanish: caramelizar
Chinese: 焦糖化
Japanese: カラメル化する
Korean: 카라멜화하다

Etymology

From French carameliser, based on caramel, from Spanish caramelo. It entered English in the 19th century through cooking language.

Common phrases

caramelized onionscaramelized sugarcaramelized applescaramelize the top

Synonyms

brown sugar-coat glaze

Related words

caramel sauté roast toast

Frequently asked questions

Is caramelize the same as brown?: Not exactly. Brown is general, but caramelize means brown with sweet flavor from cooking.
Can I use caramelize for onions?: Yes. It is very common for onions cooked slowly until soft and brown.
Is caramelize a cooking word?: Yes. It is mainly used in cooking and recipes.
How do you use caramelize in a sentence?: You can say, 'Caramelize the onions before adding the sauce.'