Are sugars released when cooking onions?

Yes, sugars are released when cooking onions. Onions contain various sugars, including sucrose, glucose, and fructose. When onions are cooked, the heat breaks down the cell walls of the onion, releasing these sugars into the surrounding liquid. This is why cooked onions have a sweeter taste than raw onions. The released sugars also contribute to the caramelization process, which gives cooked onions their characteristic golden brown color and rich flavor.