What’s your favorite type of sandwich? Is it a Philly cheesesteak? A pastrami on rye? Perhaps a fromage-loaded grilled cheese? Or, maybe just that classic–yet totally delectable PB&J? It’s a tough decision, for sure. After all, ALL sandwiches are great sandwiches, but we’d be lying if we said that we liked any sandwich better than the hamburger.
Well, actually, cheeseburger with extra pickles, grilled onions, and about 5 tablespoons of ketchup, to be exact…
If your mouth is currently watering at the mere mention of hamburgers, chances are, you, too, are a hopeless lover of burgers. There’s just something so appetizing, so filling, so fun, and so, well, American, about chowing down on a burger. When it comes to where they come from, we really don’t have any brand loyalty. We’re happy stuffing our face with a 1/2-pound steakhouse splurge, but we’re also thrilled every time we eat a Big Mac, too.
Yep, you can’t really go wrong with a burger!
But, just because hamburgers are a universally-beloved food, doesn’t mean that most people know squat about them. Before you get defensive, just ask yourself this: Do you know where the hamburger was invented?
Nope, definitely not here in the States. And, definitely not even on the continent of North America. Talk about a twist, huh?
Today, we’re sharing a video that gives you a history lesson that is going to be WAY more delicious than the ones you had to sit through in fifth period. It contains 10 fascinating facts that you probably didn’t know about hamburgers. Here are a few of our favorite highlights from the clip…
-
You can thank Genghis Khan for your precious hamburger
Yep, we wanted to start our list off with a big shock!
Believe it or not, the hamburger actually originates from 13th-century Mongolia. According to a Natinoal Geographic documentary, “EAT: The Story of Food: The History of the Hamburger,” Khan’s Mongol warriors got into the habit of storing their ground beef under the saddles to transport and tenderize the meat. The Russians loved the idea so much, they borrowed the idea and made tartare. Eventually, the culinary tradition made it’s way to Hamburg, Germany, where someone had the bright idea to finally COOK that ground beef. Eventually, a trusty Texan added bread to the equation in the 1880s. Random, but true!
-
One time, the U.S. government tried to rename hamburgers “liberty sandwiches”
This happened when Americans were fighting the Germans during WWI, a time when anti-German sentiments ran rampant. Luckily, the idea didn’t catch on, just like “freedom fries” didn’t more than 100 years later!
-
The oldest hamburger chain is…
…White Castle! Turns out, Harold and Kumar weren’t just hungry stoners, they were also hamburger purisits!
Who knew that the burger had such a mysterious history? Now that you’ve gotten your first taste (get it?!) of these incredible burger facts, it’s time for you to get the full 10. Just watch the video below to learn even more about the rich and varied history of the beloved burger.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on all things hamburgers! Were you surprised by any of these burger-related facts? Do you know of any others that you would like to share? What’s your go-to burger recipe?