DID YOU KNOW? 7 Cooking Terms Used Wrong — Even by Food Writers. CARAMELISE VS SOFTEN: 'Caramelise onions for 10 minutes' is wrong—true caramelisation takes 40-60 mins. Using the term for 'softening' spreads timing errors. SEAR VS BROWN: Searing is high-heat, fast Maillard browning. Recipes use it for 'pan cooking' at low temps, setting false expec