The Steaming Technique That Caramelizes Onions Way Faster

Caramelized onions may be delicious, but they can take too long to prepare. However, adding water to the pan can cut your caramelization time in half or more, to around 30 minutes.

The trick works by creating steam that softens the raw onions way faster than the hot pan alone would. This allows the onions to move on to the browning process much faster.

To start, add a small amount of water to the skillet with the onions and cover it with a lid to trap the steam. Bring the water to a boil and cook until it has mostly evaporated.

At that point, you can remove the lid and lower the heat. Then, grab a spatula and press the onions down into an even layer to maximize contact with the hot pan.

Let the onions brown for about 30 seconds before stirring and flipping over and around. Repeat the press-down process for 15 to 20 minutes to yield perfectly caramelized onions.