Hamburgers, one of the most popular foods in the world, make up 60% of all sandwiches sold worldwide. But do you know that they have got nothing to do with ham or pork?
A hamburger usually consists of fillings of ground meat, typically beef, placed inside a sliced bun. While the US is the largest consumer of hamburgers today, its origins lie in the German city of Hamburg.
Origins in Hamburg, Germany
In the 19th century, beef delicacies were popular in Hamburg, an important trading centre in Europe. The German port city was known for its high-quality beef, and one of the most popular dishes was the ‘Hamburg steak’— seasoned minced beef formed into patties.
German immigrants started arriving in the United States in the mid-1800s. Many of them earned a living by running restaurants. Arrival of people also brings in cuisines from different lands, and menus in these restaurants often featured the Hamburg steak.
The popularity of the dish soared as American cooks began placing the cooked beef patty between two slices of a bun, making it portable and easy to eat.
The hamburger gained a reputation with the opening of the first White Castle restaurant in Kansas in 1921.
Rise of Fast Food: White Castle to McDonald’s
Following its footsteps, other national hamburger chains were founded in the years following the Second World War: McDonald’s (1948), In-N-Out Burger (1948), Burger King (1954), and Wendy’s (1969).
The hamburger represents a melting pot of different cultures and culinary habits. Thanks to McDonald’s, it is now a global phenomenon.
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