I found a recipe that says to "sweat onions". What does that mean?

Question

Okay, I DO NOT mean "sweet" onions.. the directions say to "sweat the onions" :)

And how do you do it?

Answer 1

Sweating is a technique in which ingredients, particularly vegetables, are cooked in a small amount of fat over low heat. Gradually, the ingredients will cook in their own juices, and pungent, bitter flavors will be replaced by sweeter ones. After sweating, onions, leeks, and garlic will become translucent, while carrots and celery soften and actually become more vibrant in color.

Answer 2

sweat onions until translucent. Sweating onions is done to accomplish for several purposes. Sweating gently cooks the onion to soften its texture, increase its sweetness and to reduce the sulfur content, which gives it a milder taste. Sweating onions for dishes, such as risottos, rice pilafs and braised meats is where the flavor begins. The sweat onions give a natural sweetness to dishes.

Answer 3

Sweat is a another word for panfrying. Go over low heat or medium, little bit of oil and add the onions. Pan fry until they change colour and look like glass.

Answer 4

Put a little virgin oil it tastes better with onions and is very light, lighty sautee them until they turned a very soft orange color.....but no more than that just to get the texture you need hope this helps

Or you can use any oil or even butter if you prefer.....

put your stove top to a med heat and let pan sit with oil for about 5 minutes then place desired amount of onions in the pan...I like to season a little with black pepper.....cook until a soft orange color like stated above then remove...

Answer 5

Put the onions in a pan with a little butter or oil. Saute them until they start to lose liquid and get soft. This will get be before they get transparent and long before they carmelize.

Hope this helps

Answer 6

you heat them in oil until they start to release their moisture but not until their color changes. you will notice the "sweating" because the onions will become softer.

Answer 7

Vidalia onions are sweet

Answer 8

squeeze the juice out, i guess