How to Sweat Onions

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

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

4. Cook the onions over low heat on your stovetop.

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

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. 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.