How To

How to Sweat Onions

By eHow Food & Drink Editor
Rate: (1 Ratings)

If you are looking at a recipe that calls for you sweat onions, you may think you discovered a typographical error. However, this is a cooking technique employed by professional chefs. Here's how to sweat onions in a few steps.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Onions
  • Stove top
  • Pan with lid
  • Oil (such as olive oil) or butter
  • Rubber spatula or spoon
  1. Step 1

    Chop, slice or dice the onions you want to sweat, as called for in your recipe.

  2. Step 2

    Put a thin layer of butter or oil in a non-stick pan on your stovetop. Olive oil is also a good choice.

  3. Step 3

    Add the onions to your pan and cover with a tight fitting id.

  4. Step 4

    Cook the onions over low heat on your stovetop.

  5. Step 5

    Stir the onions occasionally with your rubber spoon or spatula. Place the lid back on the pan after you finish stirring.

  6. Step 6

    Continue to cook the onions over low heat until they are translucent and have a soft texture, which will indicate that the onions are done.

  7. Step 7

    Use your onions in the recipe.

Tips & Warnings
  • Sweating onions is called for when you want to make onions in a recipe taste milder, sweeter or have a softer texture.
  • Adding salt to the onions in the pan will help the onions release their moisture and sweat more quickly.
  • Do not let the onions brown while cooking.
  • Do not use too much butter or oil when sweating onions, or they won't sweat properly and will be too oily.

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