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
Broiling caramelizes the mozzarella and browns the pie.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 5 June 2025
Some highlights include the Tortilla Española (traditional Spanish omelet, caramelized onions, garlic aioli) and Chicken and Waffles (buttermilk waffles topped with rosemary and more).
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2025
Paired with baby peach and young ginger, the result is a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth fillet, caramelized to perfection and subtly infused with umami sweetness.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Broil or grill the pork over indirect high heat until the meat begins to caramelize, 2 to 4 minutes.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for caramelize
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Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 5 June 2025
Some highlights include the Tortilla Española (traditional Spanish omelet, caramelized onions, garlic aioli) and Chicken and Waffles (buttermilk waffles topped with rosemary and more).
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2025
Paired with baby peach and young ginger, the result is a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth fillet, caramelized to perfection and subtly infused with umami sweetness.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Broil or grill the pork over indirect high heat until the meat begins to caramelize, 2 to 4 minutes.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for caramelize
Cite this Entry
“Caramelize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caramelize. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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