📍 Where Did Hamburgers Come From?
Step 1: The Hamburg steak
A long time ago in the German city of Hamburg, people enjoyed eating Hamburg steak. It was:
- minced (ground) steak
- seasoned with spices
- cooked like a patty
- usually served without a bun
When the German immigrants moved to the United States in the 1800s, they brought this recipe with them. Restaurants began serving "Hamburger steak" on their menus, and it quickly became a favourite in American cities.
Step 2: The hamburger
In the late 1800s or early 1900s, someone had the clever idea to place the beef patty between 2 slices of bread or inside a bun. This made it:
- easy to eat
- easy to carry
- perfect for fairs and busy streets
Did you know? That's exactly why the sandwich is called a "hamburger" — the name comes from Hamburg, the city where the minced steak recipe first became famous!