saute

[mimi gatt]

In many of the CL recipe's it calls for you
to heat your pan over med-hi heat, and then
add (say onions) and saute for 5 minutes.
I have always thought that saute meant to
cook at a low temp. But I know that when I
do that, if you are trying to achieve a brown
onion that low can't be correct. HELP!

[Laura B]

Mimi, actually to saute is to cook quickly over high heat.

[sneezles]

Saute comes from the French verb sauter, means "to jump". On cooking shows you see those guys shoving the skillet around and lifting it up, this is great and showy but stirring does the same job! Things to be sauted need to be cut into small pieces or very thinly sliced. Carmelized onions would be sauted and then the heat reduced to cook for a longer time.