Can you caramelize onions without using fat?

In this article the writer suggests slightly caramelizing table sugar and after that toss the onions in the caramelized sugar. My question is - wouldn't you need a fat like butter to transfer heat from the pan to the onions? Does he take for granted we add butter to the caramel? Or does he mean we add sweated onions to the caramel together with the fat?

Best Answer

You do not add fat to sugar when caramelizing it, you add it to the pan dry. Sugar has water suspended in it, and it comes out when heated. The caramel will transfer the heat to the onions just fine - anyone who's ever gotten splattered with hot caramel will attest to that.

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Quick Answer about "Can you caramelize onions without using fat?"

Oil is not a "health food" and is high in fat and calories, while low in nutrients. Cooking without oil is easy (and delicious)! You can still caramelize your favorite veggies, like onions, without oil - just use water!

How do you caramelize onions without oil?

Add sliced onions and stir. Then cover. Cook for a total of 30-40 minutes, opening the lid and stirring every 5 minutes. Be sure to cover again with lid after stirring \u2014 this helps them cook more evenly without the use of oil.

What can I use instead of butter to caramelize onions?

You only use butter to caramelize your onions. Adding some oil, which has a higher smoke point than butter, will help keep the mixture from scorching. Avoid extra virgin olive oil, which is sensitive to heat, in favor of light or refined olive oil.

Do you use oil to caramelize onions?

You can use just oil, or a combination of butter and oil\u2014the choice is yours! If you pack too many onions into your pan, they'll steam and produce water. Eventually, they will caramelize\u2014but it will take much longer to get them there.

How do you make low fat caramelized onions?

Instructions

Slice onions in half then cut the halves vertically into thin slices.

Spray saute pan with olive oil and heat over medium heat.

Add onions, salt, pepper and thyme, and cook, stirring gently until the onions start to soften.

Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook onions, stirring every few minutes.

How To Caramelize Onions With No Added Fat

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Anete Lusina, Andres Ayrton, Kindel Media, Karolina Grabowska