Hamburgers may well be considered America’s favorite food. You can find them in hole-in-the-wall diners, at the drive-through windows of fast food chains, and on the menus of Michelin-starred restaurants. Worldwide, McDonald’s sells 75 hamburgers per second! So where exactly did this tasty beef sandwich originate?

You may have heard that Hamburg, Germany is the home of the first hamburger. While the inspiration for the hamburger did come from Hamburg, the sandwich concept was invented much later. In the 19th century, beef from German Hamburg cows was minced and combined with garlic, onions, salt and pepper, then formed into patties (without bread or a bun) to make Hamburg steaks. These early burgers were considered gourmet and were quite pricey, given the quality of Hamburg beef. When German immigrants began arriving in New York and Chicago, many earned a living by opening restaurants. Menus frequently featured Hamburg steak, an Americanized version of the German offering. It was often the most expensive dish on the menu. During the Industrial Revolution, factory workers were served Hamburg steak from food carts. They proved difficult to eat while standing, so one creative cook sandwiched the meat patty between two slices of bread (the culinary innovator’s name has sadly been lost to history). The Hamburg sandwich was born, an evolution that boosted this food’s popularity all over the country.

Throughout the years hamburgers have become a symbol of American cuisine, though they are loved the world over. They come in a number of varieties, and can even be made vegetarian style. In countries like India, where beef is not part of the traditional Hindu diet, potato patties called Aloo Tikki are popular. However, the overwhelmingly favored version is the traditional beef burger. It is so popular, in fact, that the global desire for burgers may not be sustainable. Recently, scientists have been challenged to grow burger meat in petri dishes to satisfy the enormous demand for burger meat worldwide. How do you feel about meat grown in a lab? It’s certainly a far cry from the Hamburg steaks of yore.

For more burger history, as well as some delicious burger recipes, visit ToriAvey.com.

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Tori Avey is a food writer, recipe developer, and the creator of the popular cooking website ToriAvey.com. She explores the story behind the food—why we eat what we eat, how the foods of different cultures have evolved, and how yesterday’s food can inspire us in the kitchen today.