If you just want a little sweet flavor for a burger, omelet, or weeknight pasta, you don’t need to break a sweat. Diced onions will soften up in about 5 to 7 minutes over medium heat. Use a good splash of oil or butter, keep them moving, and they’ll turn from harsh to translucent and mild—what chefs call "sweated."
The flip side? Crowding the pan is a sin. If you pile them in like a mountain, they’ll steam instead of caramelize, and you’ll be left with soggy, grey sadness. You want them in a single layer if you can manage it. That’s it—just a few minutes of patience, and you’re done.
