Just like the famous American hamburger, it is next to impossible to find out who came up with the first-ever cheeseburger in the United States. Perhaps the reason why an entire country is credited for this delectable cheesy sandwich is there is no single person or restaurant to take the credit for the same.
These burgers are as American as food can get if you think about it. So let’s find out more about this historically relevant burger, and at the same time, let’s learn how to make these yummy treats at home. So scroll down and read more about the origins of cheeseburgers and how to make these at home.
“Man who invented the hamburger was smart; a man who invented the cheeseburger was a genius.”
The Legend Of Cheeseburgers: Origin
Legend says in 1924, Lionel Sternberger slapped some American cheese on top of a cooking hamburger at his dad’s sandwich shop known as the Rite Spot. Lionel was only 16 at the time, and their shop was located in Pasadena, California. Both the father and son loved this new sandwich, and thus was born the American cheeseburger!
Since the Sternbergers named their new sandwich, ‘cheese hamburger’, many historians simply disqualify them because of this random technicality. So let’s move on to a decade later, now.
The year was 1934. Charles Kaelin, the owner of Kaelin’s restaurant located in Louisville, Kentucky, wanted to “add a new tang to the hamburger,” according to writer Robert Garr. This sandwich at Kaelin’s restaurant is perhaps one of the earliest cheeseburgers on the menu. But it was 1935 when a Dever-based food joint, Humpty Dumpty Drive-In, trademarked the name ‘cheeseburger.’ Louis Ballast, the owner, was responsible for this move.
Modern Variations:
While most Americans love a good Cheeseburger, not everyone loves it the same way – everyone has their own choice of toppings, sides, and even cooking styles. For instance, some people might love all the calories in a Mcdonald’s cheeseburger, and some might enjoy a vegan version of the same.
Check out the list of modern variations of the cheeseburger below,
The ‘Fried And Smashed’ Patty
You can order a single, double, or in some cases, even triple. The best part about these? They are cooked well all the time. All you need to add is some American cheese, toppings, and condiments – simple and tasty!
The Bar Burger
The best part about these bar burgers is that the patty is juicy, grilled, and thick. And naturally, you get to choose the type of cheese, toppings, and condiments. Thus, you can eat in a classic way with traditional additions or customize it according to your preferences.
Gourmet Burgers
Naturally, gourmet burgers are upscale variations of the classic cheeseburger. It entirely depends on the kind of restaurant you are ordering the burger at, thereby making these exclusive variations differ from restaurant to restaurant.
“Cheeseburger in paradise”
Heaven on Earth with an onion slice”
Right, we remember Jimmy Buffett and his song about cheeseburgers! The popularity of this classic American dish is so much that artists have sung songs about the same. Don’t you feel like learning how to make this tremendous American dish at home? Think about it. You don’t need to step out every time you crave one cheezy, juicy burger!
Scroll down to find out how to make cheeseburgers at home!
How To Make Cheeseburger At Home?
Instead of trying out some modern variations of this iconic American burger like cheeseburger soup or even cheeseburger casserole, you should master the art of making the perfect classic all-American cheeseburger like a pro!
But before that, let’s find out what ingredients you will need!
Ingredients:
The ingredients and the quantity you will need for making the all-American cheeseburger are as follows,
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Freshly grounded beef | 2 Pounds |
| Onion powder | 1 tablespoon |
| Salt | 1 teaspoon |
| Black Pepper (preferably freshly grounded) | 1 teaspoon |
| American cheese (deli counter) | 12 slices |
| Burger buns (preferably homemade and toasted) | 6 |
Check out the list of ingredients for garnishing purposes:
⦿ Ketchup, ⦿ Mayonnaise, ⦿ Thousand island dressing ⦿ Red onion (sliced) ⦿ Tomatoes (sliced) ⦿ Pickles (sliced) ⦿ Lettuce Leaves (preferably fresh)
Directions
Follow the steps mentioned below to learn how to cook a cheeseburger at home,
- Take a large bowl. Now add the freshly ground beef, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Start mixing it all together, but while doing so, make sure you are not overdoing it. If you mix it more than necessary, then the patties will become pretty stiff.
- Now divide the mixture into six portions. While doing so, gently make six patties out of the divided portions – make sure they are all uniform in terms of thickness. Don’t forget to smoothen all the cracks gently with your fingers.
- The entire process mentioned here must be done just before you are going to grill the patties, so you need to keep them at room temperature.
- Now it’s time to grill! Simply preheat the grilling device and start adding burger patties. Cover the patties with a lid if possible.
- Cook for 2 minutes and then flip it. Don’t flip the patties before the crust gets grilled right. Once you flip the patties, add the two slices of American cheese. Then simply cover with a lid and cook for 2 to 3 minutes for a medium-rare taste.
- Once cooked, remove them using a metal spatula, and place them on a plate. Let the patties rest for a few minutes before adding the burger buns and toppings.
- Garnish according to your preferences and serve piping hot cheeseburgers!
Frequently Asked Questions:–
Ans: Freshly grounded beef is the preferred choice of meat for the classic all-American cheeseburger. However, modern variations of gourmet burgers can include a variety of meat.
Ans: A Canadian university, McMaster University, recently conducted a study that pointed out that eating a cheeseburger regularly can prove to be good for your heart even with its whopping meat and dairy combination.
Ans: If you have been wondering ‘how many calories are in a Mcdonald’s cheeseburger,’ you have come to the right place. A typical McDonald’s cheeseburger of 100 grams contains 263 calories. Some places can even make it 280.
Wrapping Up:
“Life is too short to miss out on the beautiful things like a double cheeseburger.”
That’s right! So don’t miss out on a delectable cheeseburger because you are too lazy to step out! Just make it at home. With our easy, breezy recipe for the cheeseburger, you can impress your family and friends – whip up an all-American cheeseburger for your close ones and watch them soak in the juicy taste of the burger.
Don’t forget to let us know in the comments below your thoughts on the same!
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