25 Onion Hacks That Make Cooking Easier

Just as there are plenty of ways to cut an onion, from chopping, dicing, finely mincing, and slicing into onion rings, there are just as many ways to cook them. While plenty of recipes call for frying, this in itself can range from softly fried to caramelized, and also bits that are crunchy. If onions are not fried to fit the other ingredients — such as not being cooked long enough so they’re acidic and could split cream if added to it — they can ruin a dish. It’s important to know the different culinary terms (via Olive Magazine).

Sweat onions by frying them in butter or oil on a low to medium heat, so that the moisture comes out, or they start, you know, “sweating.” If a recipe calls for onions that are soft and translucent then fry gently for around 10 minutes. Keep stirring so they soften but don’t brown or color. Fry with a medium heat to brown onions, stirring so that they’re evenly cooked and colored. To make a small amount of caramelized onion you may need more bulbs than you think, as the slices reduce down as they soften and sweeten. 

Cook for around 45 minutes on medium heat. For crispy, oniony bits to add to dishes as a topping, put more oil in your pan and frazzle until they’re brown and can’t be cooked any more without burning. Drain on a paper towel.