Caramelized Onions

Sweet and umami-packed, caramelized onions make almost everything better, and learning how to caramelize onions will serve you well for all kinds of dishes. Need a quick dip? Mix caramelized onions with sour cream, cream cheese, and a few seasonings for a next-level caramelized onion dip. Sad soup? Give your mirepoix a boost by caramelizing the onions before adding the other ingredients. Casserole lacks oomph, and you dare not rely on that can of cream-of-something soup? Caramelized onions are here for you. Have an onion and dried pasta on hand? How about some French Onion Pasta for dinner?

The only catch to this pantry powerhouse is that caramelized onions take well over an hour to cook properly, and chances are high they will scorch a little and turn acrid and bitter. When I was in culinary school, I was taught that the enemies of caramelization are movement and moisture. I have come to respectfully disagree, at least where onions are concerned. Those elements are, in fact, exactly what's needed to achieve caramelized onion nirvana. I developed this caramelized onion recipe to help you create restaurant-quality onions at home.

How to caramelize onions

This fail-safe technique for caramelizing onions uses a lid and some water to manipulate the moisture of the cooking onions, guaranteeing sublime sweetness. Properly caramelized onions are spreadably soft but maintain their individual strands, are uniform in their mahogany color, and taste silky-sweet with a hint of onion bite. They cook down to a third of their original volume, giving up the majority of their moisture while their sugars slowly caramelize, darkening into a slump of flavor fit for improving any number of wintertime dishes.

Frequently asked questions

How do you caramelize onions evenly?

Even cooking starts with even cutting. It's more important that the onions be cut uniformly than cut a specific size. If it's easier for you to cut onions into 1/2-inch pieces rather than 1/4-inch pieces, no problem. Just be consistent — the onions will still caramelize evenly, though larger cuts may take a bit longer to cook.

How long does it take to caramelize onions?

Caramelized onions take some time, at least an hour and a half to cook once they are in the pan. Since it takes a bit of time and a careful eye to caramelize onions, make this recipe on a weekend or another day when you have time to spend in the kitchen. Let the onions cool to room temperature then divide them into ice cube trays or small containers to freeze them so you can use them for quick meals throughout the week.

What is the best pan to use for caramelized onions?

Be sure to choose a heavy-bottomed skillet with a light interior — it will make it easier to monitor the browned bits in the bottom of the pan to avoid scorching the onions.

Make ahead

I let the cooked onions cool to room temperature then divide them into ice cube trays to freeze and use throughout the week. Sometimes, depending on what I plan to use them for, I puree them before freezing them. The pureed onion ice cubes are great for melting into sauces and soups, while longer onion strands are ideal for adding to rustic soups and clinging to curly pasta shapes.