On: Why do recipe writers lie about how long it takes ...

[peter_retief]

I had to google because I forgot the term for sauteed onions, had the term braised in my head.

https://www.platingsandpairings.com/sauteed-onions/

The main difference between sauteed onions and caramelized onions is the cooking time. Caramelized onions are cooked at a lower temperature, for a longer period of time, resulting in super sweet, tender onions.