The short answer is that it came from Hamburg, Germany. And when you consider it, that is just plain strange because the frankfurter (a k. a. the hot dog) originated in Frankfurt, Germany (for more information, see What are hot dogs made of?). One wonders why French fries prevailed over German fries.
The origins of hamburger can be traced back to the Tatars (or Tartars), a nomadic people who invaded eastern Europe and central Asia during the Middle Ages. The Tatars consumed their shredded beef raw, thus the modern term “steak tartare.” According to one story, they rode with their beef sandwiched between the saddle and the horse to make it more tender. The dish was brought to Germany by the Tatars, who marinated the beef in regional spices before frying or grilling it, giving it the name “Hamburg steak.” Hamburg steak was brought to the United States by German immigrants. In the 1880s, New York restaurant menus featured it. At the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, sandwiches made with hamburgers became a sensation. Louis.
White Castle, founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kan. , is the worlds oldest chain of hamburger restaurants. After World War II, the popularity of hamburgers in the United States skyrocketed as drive-in restaurants sprang up as a result of the rising number of cars. The first McDonald’s was a hamburger stand in San Bernardino, California. , has spread the hamburger around the world. Billions of hamburgers have been served by the largest restaurant chain in the world, which has more than 26,000 locations in 119 countries.
How did the hamburger get its name?There’s no clear reason as to why a hamburger is called a hamburger, but our best guess is right in the name: The origins can be traced back to Hamburg, Germany. As Europeans began to immigrate to the United States en masse in the 18th and 19th centuries, they brought with them their favorite foods, including Hamburg steaks, or fried patties of minced beef and
Sources:
- TimeOut: “The history of the hamburger: An American invention”
- The Library of Congress: “Local Legacies”
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The ancient history of the modern hamburger | Edible Histories Episode 4 | BBC Ideas
FAQ
What is the difference between a hamburger and a beef burger?
There is no distinction between a beef burger and a hamburger—we don’t know why a hamburger is called that, but beef burgers are still known by that name even though they don’t contain ham.
Why is a burger called a burger?
At the 1885 Seymour Fair, Charlie Nagreen Nagreen, then 15 years old, reportedly sold pork sandwiches made for people to eat on the go. According to the Historical Society, Nagreen named the hamburger after the Hamburg steak that the area’s German immigrants were accustomed to.
What was the hamburger called before it was called a hamburger?
In Hamburg, it became known as “Hamburg steak. ” When it arrived in the U. S. It earned the name “hamburger steak” during the 1800s immigration wave. “Hamburg steak is said to have been adopted by food carts, eateries, and immigrants in New York City from the recent German immigrants.
Is ground beef called hamburger or hamburger?
The main distinction between hamburger and ground beef is how the beef fat is added. Only the fat found in meat trimmings can be used to make ground beef.