If the taste and smell of onions are usually too pungent for you, caramelized onions are your best friend. Onions that are slowly sautéed to make them soft, sweet, rich, and mild are undoubtedly delicious, but one downside is that they take a while to prepare — luckily, this one ingredient can be a lifesaver.

Onions typically take about 30 to 60 minutes to caramelize, but America's Test Kitchen says that adding brown sugar to the pan will make the onions brown faster and taste sweeter. All you need is 1 teaspoon of sugar per 2 pounds of onions; a skillet; oil or another kind of fat; and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

Heat the fat in the skillet until it's shimmering, then add the onions, sugar, and salt. The total cooking time is around 20 to 25 minutes; for the first half, cover the skillet with a lid and cook the onions over a medium-low flame, stirring occasionally. At the halfway point, remove the lid and increase the heat to medium-high.

Continue cooking the onions, still stirring occasionally, and patiently wait for them to turn a deep golden-brown. The molasses in the brown sugar will add a warm, sweet flavor to your caramelized onions, and the resulting thick and syrupy texture will make your final result seem even richer.