congrats, now that is an unpopular opinion. caramel is so awesome, it has its own verb

It's an incorrect opinion, not liking caramel is fine but caramelization is chemically completely distinct from burning. That's like saying you only like sushi because cooked fish is just burnt fish

Massively faulty premise. The point isn't to burn sugars but to heat them slowly so as to bring about (wait for it) caramelization.

Quite aside from producing sweets, this is one of the most critical chemical reactions in cooking(†), used in any number of popular, classic dishes.

EDIT: (†) and arguably even in human evolution, believe it or not.

Upvote that your whole premise sucks. 🙂

Upvote for a truly unpopular opinion!

Also, your description of caramel is incorrect, caramel is caramelized sugar. But that doesn't effect you not liking it!

If you burnt your sugar you blew past the caramel stages

I wholeheartedly disagree but congrats for having an actual unpopular opinion.

Butter, cream, salt are all a huge part of the flavor too. Also, its a Maillard reaction, not oxidation. So, not only is your opinion unpopular, it is also objectively false.

Damn a real unpopular opinion

Nah sugar is just undercooked caramel!

Yep. This is unpopular.

Bourbon, banana, maple, caramel, vanilla... they all dance around a midpoint flavor of the gods.

Upvoting for an actual unpopular opinion, you psychopath

I have noticed lately that commercially available caramel doesn't taste like caramel anymore, it just tastes sweet

Burnt sugar does not = caramel.

This post is invalid.

If you burn the sugar, it most assuredly is not caramel. It's also not usually just melted sugar but a mixture of melted sugar, salt, butter, and heavy cream.

It can also be burnt milk fat, such as Dulce Leches.

Fuck you! Agree upvote.

I don't like caramel desserts, but this is just culinarily incorrect. It's not burnt sugar, it's sugar that's undergone a millard reaction. This is how many many foods are also prepared, and what makes them delicious.

Carmel isn't burnt sugar any more than a seared steak is burnt meat.

Truly unpopular.

Caramel, especially salted caramel is really good.

Same opinion for butterscotch or nah?

OP mad because they got caramel on their fingers.

Thats not just unpopular, thats a verified trash take. Take my upvote and leave earth

Homemade toffee is one of the most delicious substances on the planet.

Goat milk caramel, oooooh so delicious.

Yes soft caramel is sticky but the flavor is amazing. Magically changed by heat from just butter and sugar and cream to caramel.

Any cookie with butter and sugar has a similar toasted sugar flavor. It's a foundational flavor in cooking.

Thank you for you absolutely trash opinion on this delicious food. Perfection.

Definitely unpopular by any metric!

I'll add to the list of folks explaining that the way you describe caramel isn't accurate, as there is a difference between burnt sugar and caramel.

I'll also add my own bit of opinion that not all caramel is equal. When made on the cheap, particularly in commercial sized batches, it's way less likely to be anything other than why you say you don't like it: sticky and unpleasant. Shitty caramel is most often not even caramel, it's a flavored and thickened syrup, which will have only scant flavor beyond being cloying.

You probably wouldn't like good caramel either though, So I won't waste your time or mine explaining how to make it. But suffice it to say that if it's homemade, you have much better control of the results, and thus a better chance of it being good.

I agree.

What about a caramel sauce, like on Ice cream? It's sticky like any other syrup, but not in the way that gets stuck in teeth. Curious if it's also the flavour or mostly the texture.

All kinds? They range in consistence.

Someone has never had caramel ice cream, I see.

It literally isn't just burnt sugar... That is like calling anything cooked "just burnt". Also, caramel usually has butter and cream in as well, so it's even worse than that. "I hate cake, it's literally just burnt flour".

You're a loon and your opinion is hot garbage.

okay, but it's the yummiest burnt sugar ever!

Wow, I'm not the only one

Heathen.

Mmmm burnt sugar...

Is this like the cilantro thing? I'm fascinated.

If you ever get the chance, find a Mexican candy/sauce called "Leche Quemada", it's the best caramel analog I've ever had.

I’d say 90% of caramel is gross, you being correct or not about it being burnt sugar is irrelevant to the fact most caramel is gross. Flavored soft cream caramel can be good though. Salted caramel is disgusting, it’s the worst type of caramel to me by far.

This is the correct opinion, so am I supposed to downvote?

Caramel tastes like shit, has awful consistency, and it gets stuck in my teeth. I hate caramel.

Serious question. When you have a steak, or any piece of meat really, do you try to make sure it doesn't get an color when it cooks? A lot of what's happening is the same (heat converting sugars and things into other compounds that our brains like)