Burning Onion at Home: What Happens After 15 Minutes?

By this time, the onions are likely completely burnt, with the color darkening to a charred black. The texture becomes tough and dried out.

The flavor will be bitter, and if you try to taste it, it will likely be unpleasant, with the burnt flavors overpowering any of the onion’s natural sweetness or savory notes.

What to Do with Burnt Onions:
Don’t Eat Them: Burnt onions can be too bitter and unpleasant to eat.

Salvage the Dish: If you’re cooking a dish, you can try to remove the burnt onions and start fresh. Alternatively, scrape away the burnt bits from the pan if the rest of the onion still has flavor.

Smoky Flavor: If you intentionally want a smoky flavor, you can use the slightly burnt onion as an ingredient in a smoky stew or sauce, but avoid letting it get too charred.

The key to avoiding burning onions is to cook them over medium to low heat, stirring frequently to ensure even cooking.