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
Penelope CasasAt a restaurant, some unlucky prep cook gets to peel, slice, and caramelize bags of onions in the morning.—Stephanie Alleyne
Stephanie Alleyne2
intransitive
: to change to caramel
Fructose begins to rapidly caramelize at around 200 degrees …—Matthew Card
: to undergo caramelization
Matthew CardThese sweet potatoes caramelize slightly in the oven, which gives them a sweet crunch as their flesh remains creamy.—Lesley Porcelli
Lesley PorcelliExamples 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
It’s topped with melty Swiss cheese, a pile of peppery arugula and rich, caramelized onions.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 21 May 2024
Its taste crosses the nutty, caramelized purity of homemade ghee with the unmistakable whomp of pork.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for caramelize 
Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 21 May 2024
Its taste crosses the nutty, caramelized purity of homemade ghee with the unmistakable whomp of pork.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for caramelize
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.
Dictionary Entries Near caramelize
Cite this Entry
“Caramelize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caramelize. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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