45-minute experiment

Onions on high vs low heat

Q: What does the onions on high vs low heat experiment test?

It tests one variable: pan heat. The idea is that onions cooked on medium-low heat turn sweet and soft. Onions cooked on high heat burn at the edges.

Can you rush caramelized onions?

The idea

Onions cooked on medium-low heat turn sweet and soft. Onions cooked on high heat burn at the edges.

The one thing you change: Pan heat

You need

2 onions, sliced
Oil or butter
Two pans
A timer

Steps

Split the onions between two pans with a little oil.
Cook one on high heat and the other on medium-low, stirring every few minutes. Stay at the stove, because hot oil on high heat smokes and scorches fast. Turn it down if it does.
After 20 minutes, taste and compare color.

What you should find

The low heat onions are soft and golden. The high heat onions are dark at the edges and still crunchy inside.

From the app

Cook this with Chef Fizz

Step-by-step mode with timers, in the free app.

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The science behind it

Caramelizing onions

Onions are about 90 percent water, and they won't brown until most of it evaporates, roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Then the sugars brown. Plan on 40 to 50…

Read the explainer

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