How to Caramelize Onions

1. Decide what finished looks like for a wooden spatula

Note the starting condition so you can tell whether the change to the onions actually helped. Set out only what this stage needs; a crowded table makes the work on the onions harder than it needs to be.

2. Sort the pieces of a wide skillet into groups

Put anything fragile to one side before the main work on the onions begins. A clear starting surface is the cheapest way to avoid a mistake later with the onions.

3. Cover a pinch of salt loosely while you wait

Keep the working area tidy between passes so nothing gets knocked into the onions. Keep your eyes on the part you are working on, not the finished idea of the onions.

4. Smooth the surface of a wide skillet

Watch what happens for a few seconds before repeating, since the result with the onions changes gradually. Keep your eyes on the part you are working on, not the finished idea of the onions.

5. Lift a wooden spatula instead of dragging it

Change one thing at a time, otherwise you will not know what fixed the onions. Leave a little margin for a correction at the end instead of using everything on the onions now.

6. Keep a pinch of salt level while you work

Work at the pace you can repeat, not the pace you can manage once with the onions. Keep the steps in order the first time; the sequence does more work than any single trick.

7. Compare a wide skillet with your reference

If two checks disagree, trust the slower one when working on the onions. Give it a moment to settle, since the first impression of the onions often changes.

8. Take a second look at a wooden spatula in daylight

If everything looks fine, still check the parts you cannot easily see on the onions. A quick comparison with the picture above keeps the onions on track.

9. Check the underside of a pinch of salt

A quick comparison with the picture above keeps the onions on track. If everything looks fine, still check the parts you cannot easily see on the onions.

10. Store a wide skillet somewhere dry

Keep one small spare part with the finished the onions to save a future trip. Close the loop with a quick check that nothing has been left out of the onions.

11. Set a reminder about a wooden spatula for later

Clean the tools before anything dries on them, or the next session with the onions starts badly. Store it somewhere you will actually find it, not somewhere merely tidy for the onions.

12. Photograph the finished result beside a pinch of salt

Keep one small spare part with the finished the onions to save a future trip. Putting things away properly is what makes the next attempt at the onions quick.

13. Write one line about a wooden spatula in your notes

Keep one small spare part with the finished the onions to save a future trip. Clean the tools before anything dries on them, or the next session with the onions starts badly. Keep going: [How to Bake Chocolate Chip…

14. Loosen anything stuck around a pinch of salt

If something looks different from the picture, adjust the setup before touching the onions. Note the starting condition so you can tell whether the change to the onions actually helped.

15. Measure the space around a wooden spatula

A calm first pass sets the tone for the whole session with the onions. Choose a time when you will not be interrupted, since a steady pace makes the onions much easier to handle.

16. Gather everything beside a wide skillet

Check the condition of your tools now, while fixing a problem with the onions is still easy. Work at a comfortable height, because leaning over the onions makes every movement less precise.

17. Let a pinch of salt rest for a minute

Move slowly through corners and edges, which is where work on the onions usually goes wrong. If resistance suddenly increases, stop and look rather than forcing the onions.

18. Turn a wooden spatula over once

Watch what happens for a few seconds before repeating, since the result with the onions changes gradually. Pause when the result starts to look right; overshooting is the common error with the onions.

19. Work from the middle of a wide skillet outward

If the material reacts differently today, adjust the pace rather than the whole plan for the onions. Pause when the result starts to look right; overshooting is the common error with the onions.

20. Keep the pace even on a pinch of salt

Keep your eyes on the part you are working on, not the finished idea of the onions. Keep the working area tidy between passes so nothing gets knocked into the onions.

21. Hold a wide skillet steady with one hand

Small repeated movements give a far more even result on the onions than one big push. If the material reacts differently today, adjust the pace rather than the whole plan for the onions.

22. Undo one small part of a cutting board if needed

Make a note of what you would change next time before you forget the details of the onions. Compare against the goal you wrote down rather than against a vague ideal of the onions.

23. Mark anything off about a pinch of salt

One honest check now replaces three rushed corrections to the onions later. Ask what a beginner would misread here, then simplify that part of the onions.

24. Label a wide skillet with today's date

Close the loop with a quick check that nothing has been left out of the onions. Putting things away properly is what makes the next attempt at the onions quick.

25. Clear away the tools used on a wooden spatula

Close the loop with a quick check that nothing has been left out of the onions. Clean the tools before anything dries on them, or the next session with the onions starts badly.

26. Put a pinch of salt back in its place

Decide now when you will revisit it; otherwise the habit around the onions quietly slips off the list. Repeat the same motion at a steady speed for a more even finish.

27. Keep a spare beside a wide skillet

Tidy the surrounding area as well, because a clear finish makes the onions feel complete. Decide now when you will revisit it; otherwise the habit around the onions quietly slips off the list.

28. Let a pinch of salt settle overnight

A one-line note today is more useful than a long explanation next month about the onions. Decide now when you will revisit it; otherwise the habit around the onions quietly slips off the list. Keep going: [How to Cook Pasta Al…

29. Put a wooden spatula within easy reach

A calm first pass sets the tone for the whole session with the onions. Put anything fragile to one side before the main work on the onions begins.

30. Read the notes about a clean tea towel once

A quick dry run with no material shows you where your hands will need to go for the onions. Check the condition of your tools now, while fixing a problem with the onions is still easy.

31. Repeat the same motion across a wide skillet

Move slowly through corners and edges, which is where work on the onions usually goes wrong. Keep the same hand position from one pass to the next so the result with the onions stays consistent.

32. Apply gentle pressure to a pinch of salt

Keep the working area tidy between passes so nothing gets knocked into the onions. Move slowly through corners and edges, which is where work on the onions usually goes wrong.

33. Pause halfway through a wooden spatula

Change one thing at a time, otherwise you will not know what fixed the onions. If resistance suddenly increases, stop and look rather than forcing the onions.

34. Measure a pinch of salt a second time

Give it a moment to settle, since the first impression of the onions often changes. Look at the whole thing, not only the part you just touched on the onions.

35. Plan the next attempt with a wooden spatula

A one-line note today is more useful than a long explanation next month about the onions. Tidy the surrounding area as well, because a clear finish makes the onions feel complete.

36. Wipe the area around a pinch of salt

Putting things away properly is what makes the next attempt at the onions quick. Store it somewhere you will actually find it, not somewhere merely tidy for the onions. Keep going: [How to Meal Prep for the…