Sauté Onions

Sautéed onions go really well with all sorts of foods, and they're quick and easy to make. Here's how.

Ingredients

 * Onions
 * Vegetable or olive oil

Steps

 * 1) Buy onions. They go pretty far, so don't get too many. One or two is usually enough for a family of 5, depending on the size of the onion.
 * 2) Turn on the stove or electric frying pan to medium heat.
 * 3) Cut up the onions into small pieces, about one centimeter cubes.
 * 4) Oil the pan. Once the pan is hot enough, pour in some oil. Don't overdo it; you can always add more. Put in enough to spread all over the bottom of the pan.
 * 5) Put in the onions. As they cook, have a spatula on hand to push them around the pan so they don't stick.
 * 6)  Add more oil if necessary. When the onions are done (after between 5 and 20 minutes, depending on how well done you want them) turn off the pan and spoon the onions into another bowl to cool off before you serve them or add them to another part of the meal, such as sauce, or just eat them then and there.
 * 7) Enjoy!

Tips

 * When you cut the onions, wearing swimming goggles can prevent you from tearing up or run the onion under the cold water before cutting.
 * If you're using a nonstick pan, don't use a metal spatula.Use a wooden Spatula
 * Sautécomes from the French word sauter, meaning "to jump," because many cooks shook the pan to move the food around. If you're not so handy at this sort of pan-shaking, use a spatula.

Warnings

 * When you pour in the oil and add the onions, watch out for oil spatters that may burn you.
 * Make sure you don't touch the hot pan, and be sure to place the pan in the sink but avoid putting water on pan because it will warp. This will prevent one from touching the pan.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Chop Onions without Tears
 * How to Make Caramelized Onions
 * How to Peel an Onion Quickly
 * How to Cut an Onion

Sources and Citations

 * Wikipedia article on sautéing