Burger Timeline
The Burger Timeline is a history fraught with uncertainty and conflict. We will write it out with as much fact as possible, but the reality is some of the burger origin stories are unsubstantiated. The likelihood is that there are many inventors of the hamburger, just several people in different areas that came up with similar ideas around the same time. More and more people needed convenient on-the-go-food around the time hamburgers took off, so adding bread to an existing menu dish just made sense. Keep reading for more information about the timeline of burgers.
Burger Roots Timeline
1st Century AD
Isicia Omentata is a minced meat meal traditionally made from lean meat (beef, chicken, peacock, pheasant, pork, or rabbit), pine nuts, pepper, wine, garum, and caul fat.
13th Century
The Mongols took raw scraps of meat and formed them into patties and placed them under their saddles for tenderization and storage while traveling and in battle. When the Mongols invaded Russia this food was introduced there, where chefs add eggs and onions.
17th Century
Ships arrive in Russia from Hamburg, Germany and adopt the meat preparation that came from the Mongold. It is called tartare steak.
1747
In London, The Art of Cookery by Hannah Glasse is published. The cookbook contains a recipe for Hamburg Sausage which contains minced beef, cloves, garlic, nutmeg, pepper, red wine, rum, salt, suet, and vinegar.
1802
Hamburg steak is added to the Oxford English Dictionary. It is defined as “a hard slab of salted minced beef, often slightly smoked, mixed with onions and breadcrumbs.”
1845
The first meat grinder was invented by G. A. Coffman. He called his invention the Machine for Cutting Sausage Meat.
1870 to 1890
German immigrants introduce the Hamburg steak to New York at restaurants, food stalls, and food carts.
Burger Timeline: Here Comes the Bread
1880
In Athens, Texas, Fletcher Davis claims to have created a burger (fried ground beef patty with mustard and Bermuda onion between bread) for his small restaurant. However, it wasn’t until 1904 at the St Louis World’s Fair that Davis took his burger to a wider audience.
1885
The Menches brothers claimed that they created the burger when they ran out of pork sausages at the Erie County Fair in New York. So, they began to put beef in a sandwich.
At the Seymour Fair in Wisconsin, Charlie Nagreen smashed a beef meatball between bread so his customers had a portable meal.
1891
In Oklahoma, Oscar Weber Bilby and his wife, Fanny, put a flame-grilled beef patty on a sourdough bun to celebrate Independence Day. This was the first documented burger in a bun.
1900
Louis Lassen, owner of Louis’ Lunch, served beef patties between slices of toast to customers in a hurry. The Library of Congress attributes the invention of the burger to Louis Lassen.
1916
In Wichita, Kansas, Walter Anderson served burgers (on buns) at his food cart.
1921
White Castle, the original fast food burger restaurant, was founded by Walter Anderson and Billy Ingram.
1925
The first cheeseburger (cheese hamburger) was claimed to be made at the Rite Spot, a diner in Pasadena, California by Lionel Sternberger. Cheese was placed over the patty and in a bun.
1936
Originally called Bob’s Pantry, Bob’s Big Boy, was founded in California.
1948
The first McDonald’s was opened by Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California.
1954
The first Burger King is founded in Miami, Florida
1955
Ray Croc partners with the McDonald’s brothers and later buys them out in 1961.
1957
The Whopper is introduced by Burger King.
1967
The Big Mac was introduced by Jim Delligatti in Uniontown, PA. The franchise owner did something right because the Big Mac was quickly expanded to all of McDonald’s restaurants and is still being made today.
1969
Wendy’s is founded by Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio.
1986
In Arlington, Virginia, Five Guys is founded.
2004
The first Shake Shack opens in New York City.
2020
Burger-ish, a Latin-Caribbean fusion burgery, opens in St. Pete’s Beach.
When Were Burgers Invented?
But America claims the true roots of the burger. It was most likely invented between 1870 and 1890 and popularized at state fairs. Hamburg steaks were popularized by German immigrants. The growing popularity of the hotdog and its portability is most likely why hamburg steaks started to be served with bread.
Conclusion
Now you have the entire, mostly factual Burger Timeline! Are you hungry?! We are! Come on out for some amazing all beef burgers and more at Burger-ish in St. Pete’s Beach! Look for the green umbrellas!
