Patrick Oconnell
The grilled cheese sandwich and the hamburger are two of the most iconic sandwiches in the world. Both have a long history and have evolved over time. The grilled cheese, a combination of bread and cheese, has been around since ancient times, with ancient Roman cookbooks advising the pairing of bread and cheese at mealtimes. The hamburger, on the other hand, is a more modern creation, with the first documented appearance of flame-grilled beef patties in a bun created to celebrate the Fourth of July. The origin of the hamburger is disputed, with various claims and stories, but it is certain that the United States played a significant role in its creation and popularization. So, which came first? Let's delve into the histories of these sandwiches and uncover the answer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of origin | Grilled cheese: 1920s; Hamburger: Unknown, but the name "hamburger" was used in 1763 |
| Origin country | Grilled cheese: United States; Hamburger: United States |
| Basic ingredients | Grilled cheese: Bread and cheese; Hamburger: Ground beef patty and bread |
| Variations | Grilled cheese: Different types of bread and cheese, meat; Hamburger: Cheeseburger, Double-decker, Veggies, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
The origin of the hamburger
The hamburger is a food that conjures up many themes and stands for several global forces, including convenience, mass production, globalisation, and American exceptionalism. While the exact origin of the hamburger is uncertain, there are several theories and historical anecdotes that provide insight into its creation.
One of the first stories of the "birth of the burger" is credited to Frank and Charles Menches, food vendors at the 1885 Erie County Fair outside of Buffalo, New York, also known as the Hamburg Fair. According to this story, the brothers ran out of their signature pork sausage sandwiches and put beef between two slices of bread, thus creating the first hamburger. However, this claim is disputed, as some believe that Charlie Nagreen, affectionately known as "Hamburger Charlie," was the true inventor of the hamburger. Nagreen allegedly squashed a beef meatball between slices of bread, allowing his customers to walk around and eat at the same time.
Another theory suggests that the name "hamburger" may be derived from the city of Hamburg, Germany, where the consumption of ground meat was common. It is speculated that the term was used derisively by Germans from St. Louis, who disapproved of the Hamburg residents' affinity for raw ground meat.
The United States Library of Congress credits Lassen with creating the first hamburger, but this claim is also questionable, as his beef patty was served between two slices of toast rather than a bun.
Over time, the hamburger began to include its characteristic trimmings, such as onions, lettuce, and sliced pickles. The golden age of the hamburger occurred in the 1940s, when it became a staple in American cuisine and popular culture, with the addition of vegetables to enhance its natural appearance and taste.
The development of the hamburger as a concept and its journey from a ground meat product to an international icon have been explored in books such as "The World Is Your Burger: A Cultural History" by David Michaels.
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The first cheeseburger
The exact origins of the cheeseburger are uncertain, with several people claiming to have invented it. However, the general consensus is that the first cheeseburger was created in 1924 by 16-year-old Lionel Sternberger, who added a slice of American cheese to a hamburger at his father's Pasadena, California, sandwich shop, "The Rite Spot". They called it a ""cheese hamburger", and it was listed on the menu as "The Original Hamburger with Cheese" for $0.15.
Other claimants to the title of creating the first cheeseburger include Kaelin's Restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, which claims to have invented the cheeseburger in 1934 by adding cheese to a hamburger to give it a "new tang". In the same year, a trademark for the name "cheeseburger" was awarded to Louis Ballast of the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In in Denver, Colorado.
The steamed cheeseburger, a variation almost exclusively served in central Connecticut, is believed to have been invented in the 1930s at a restaurant called Jack's Lunch in Middletown, Connecticut.
The popularity of cheeseburgers can be attributed to the opening of the vast grasslands of the Great Plains for cattle ranching in the late 19th century, making beef more affordable and accessible to Americans. By the 1920s, adding cheese to hamburgers became a popular trend, and it has since become a staple in American cuisine, with numerous variations and toppings.
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Grilled cheese in the 1920s
The grilled cheese sandwich became very popular in the 1920s. Although the exact origin of the grilled cheese sandwich remains a mystery, food historians have stated that humans have paired bread with cheese for centuries. Even ancient Roman cookbooks advised combining bread and cheese at mealtimes.
In the 1920s, with the introduction of sliced bread, inexpensive loaves of bread and processed cheese acted as a catalyst for public consumption of grilled cheese. During this time, with the huge increase in restaurant dining, the grilled cheese sandwich was a popular menu item. By the time the Great Depression struck, grilled cheese sandwiches were a staple of the American diet. In its earliest form, a grilled cheese sandwich was made open-faced with grated American cheese.
During World War II, the grilled cheese sandwich was a particular favourite of the Allied Armed Forces. Navy cooks prepared countless "American cheese filling sandwiches" as instructed by government-issued cookbooks in ships' kitchens. These were usually served open-faced and consisted of one slice of bread topped with grated cheese.
In 1950, Kraft Foods introduced Kraft Singles — individually wrapped slices of processed cheese. In 1965, supermarkets began stocking them, and around the same time, the second piece of bread was added on top to make the sandwich more filling. The modern notion of a grilled cheese sandwich was thus born. It is worth noting that the actual term "grilled cheese" didn't make an appearance in print until the 1960s; before that, it was always toasted cheese or melted cheese sandwiches.
The hamburger also has a long history. There are various claims about the origin of the hamburger, with some stating that it was created by "Hamburger Charlie", who squashed a beef meatball between slices of bread. Others claim that the first hamburger was created by the Bilbys, who flame-grilled beef patties in a sourdough bun to celebrate the Fourth of July. The United States Library of Congress credits Lassen with creating the first hamburger, but his beef patty was served between two slices of toast, not a bun.
The hamburger was popularized by the McDonald brothers, who switched from running a barbecue shack to selling hamburgers in 1948, starting what became the largest fast-food chain in the world.
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The evolution of grilled cheese
The grilled cheese sandwich has become a staple of the American diet, with its influence stretching far and wide. While the exact origins of the grilled cheese sandwich remain a mystery, the evolution of this classic comfort food can be traced back to ancient times, with various cultural influences along the way.
Ancient Times to the 19th Century
Evidence of pairing bread and cheese can be found as far back as ancient Rome, with ancient Roman cookbooks recommending the combination. However, cooking bread and cheese together seems to be a more recent phenomenon. An English recipe book from 1861, Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, includes a recipe for sandwiches made with brown bread, butter, and Cheshire cheese, served toasted.
Early 20th Century
The term "grilled cheese" didn't come into use until the 1960s. Before that, these sandwiches were known as toasted cheese or melted cheese sandwiches. The first recorded mention of a grilled cheese sandwich was in 1926, and they became very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, inexpensive loaves of bread and the introduction of processed cheese by Kraft in 1916 made grilled cheese sandwiches accessible to many. By the time of the Great Depression, grilled cheese sandwiches were a staple in the American diet, especially for those who couldn't afford much else.
Mid-20th Century to Present
During World War II, grilled cheese sandwiches were a favourite among the Allied Armed Forces, and they soon became a regular fixture in school cafeterias and homes. In 1950, Kraft Foods introduced Kraft Singles, individually wrapped slices of processed cheese, which became stocked in supermarkets in 1965. This made grilled cheese sandwiches even more convenient and popular. The addition of a second slice of bread on top, likely for a more filling meal, solidified the modern notion of a grilled cheese sandwich.
Today, grilled cheese sandwiches are found on menus ranging from delis to five-star restaurants, with chefs experimenting with different types of bread, cheese, and toppings. Grilled cheese has become a recognised comfort food for both children and adults, with its versatility and simplicity making it a timeless favourite.
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The name 'hamburger'
The name "hamburger" is derived from Hamburg, the second-largest city in Germany. However, there is no specific connection between the dish and the city. The term "burger" has since become a self-standing word, associated with sandwiches that are similar to hamburgers but contain different types of meat, such as buffalo, venison, chicken, or even meatless options like the veggie burger.
The first stirrings of what came to be known as a hamburger can be traced back to ancient times, with the Ancient Egyptians consuming ground meat. In the 1100s, Genghis Khan and the Mongols are believed to have eaten ground lamb as they conquered new territories. Moving forward to the 1700s, a recipe for "Hamburgh sausage" on toasted bread appeared in Hannah Glasse's "The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy" in 1758. A similar snack, possibly containing roasted beefsteak, was also popular in Hamburg, Germany, under the name "Rundstück warm" ("bread roll warm") in 1869 or earlier.
The invention of the hamburger is commonly attributed to several people, including Charlie Nagreen, Frank and Charles Menches, Oscar Weber Bilby, Fletcher Davis, and Louis Lassen. The United States Library of Congress credits Lassen with creating the first hamburger, but there is doubt as his beef patty was served between two slices of toast, not a bun. Another claim suggests that the hamburger originated in Summit County, Ohio, or New York, with "Hamburg Beefsteak" appearing on a menu in San Fernando, California, between 1871 and 1884.
The hamburger gained national recognition in the US at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, where a New York Tribune reporter wrote about a new sandwich called the "hamburger." The first fast-food chain to focus on hamburgers was White Castle, founded in Wichita, Kansas, followed by McDonald's in 1948 and Burger King in 1954.
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Frequently asked questions
The grilled cheese sandwich came first. The pairing of bread and cheese has been around since ancient times, and the grilled cheese sandwich became popular in the 1920s. The first documented appearance of a hamburger was in 1885.
A grilled cheese sandwich is made by grilling cheese inside bread. The term "grilled cheese" was first used in the 1960s, before which it was called a "toasted cheese" or "melted cheese" sandwich.
A hamburger is a ground beef patty between two slices of bread. The name "hamburger" may be a reference to ground beef sold in Hamburg, Germany. The dish was likely created in the United States, and it became popular in the 1940s.
