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Hamburger

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A hamburger is a delicious meal enjoyed all over the world.

Flickr - cyclonebill - Burger
Flickr - cyclonebill - Burger

It usually features a patty made of ground beef. This patty sits inside a sliced bun or a bread roll.

Flickr XP-ert 489502412--Cheeseburgers on grill
Flickr XP-ert 489502412--Cheeseburgers on grill

You can add many toppings to make it your own. People often use lettuce, tomato, onion, or pickles. Some people like to add bacon or even spicy chilis.

NYC-Diner-Bacon-Cheeseburger
NYC-Diner-Bacon-Cheeseburger

You might use condiments like ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise. If you add cheese to the meat, it becomes a cheeseburger. Some people even call the whole thing a sandwich.

Many people love burgers because they are tasty and easy to eat.

There are many ways to build a perfect burger.

Flickr XP-ert 489502412--Cheeseburgers on grill
Flickr XP-ert 489502412--Cheeseburgers on grill

First, you need a patty made from ground meat. Most people use beef, but you can use other things. You could try a salmon burger or a turkey burger. Some people even eat veggie burgers made without meat.

Impossible Burger - Gott's Roadside- 2018 - Stierch
Impossible Burger - Gott's Roadside- 2018 - Stierch

After the meat is cooked, you place it on a bun. You can use a plain bun or one with sesame seeds. Then, you layer on your favorite vegetables and sauces. Some people use a special sauce that looks like Thousand Island dressing. This simple way of layering makes every bite exciting.

Where did the hamburger begin? The name comes from the city of Hamburg in Germany.

Hamburg steak
Hamburg steak

However, nobody knows the exact story of how it started. One idea is that people ate "Hamburgh sausages" on toasted bread in 1758.

Oberhafenkantine (Hamburger Rundstück)
Oberhafenkantine (Hamburger Rundstück)

Another story says German travelers ate meat on rolls while going to America. Some believe the name came from the Hamburg America Line shipping company. Others think the name comes from Hamburg, New York. Because there is not much written history, the true origin remains a mystery. Many different people claim they were the very first to invent it.

Many people have claimed to be the inventor of the burger.

Cheeseburger at Louis' Lunch, New Haven
Cheeseburger at Louis' Lunch, New Haven

Louis Lassen from Connecticut says he made one around 1900. He used beef trimmings and put them between slices of toast.

Cheeseburger at Louis' Lunch, New Haven
Cheeseburger at Louis' Lunch, New Haven

Another man named Charlie Nagreen sold meat sandwiches at a fair in 1885. He was only 15 years old when he did this.

Cheeseburger at Louis' Lunch, New Haven
Cheeseburger at Louis' Lunch, New Haven

The Menches brothers say they sold beef sandwiches at a fair in 1885 too. Even more people, like Fletcher Davis and Oscar Weber Bilby, have their own stories. It is possible that many people came up with the idea at the same time.

Today, burgers are part of many different cultures.

McD Big Mac
McD Big Mac

You can find them in fast-food restaurants or fancy dining rooms. Huge companies like McDonald's and Burger King have made burgers famous globally.

McD Big Mac
McD Big Mac

The Big Mac and the Whopper are very well-known icons.

McD Big Mac
McD Big Mac

In 1921, White Castle helped make burgers popular by showing they were clean. They even made small square burgers called sliders.

A party tray of sliders at a restaurant
A party tray of sliders at a restaurant

In 1937, Bob Wian created the double-decker Big Boy burger.

McD Big Mac
McD Big Mac

From small snacks to huge meals, burgers connect people everywhere.

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🖼️ Images & Media (19)
File:Hamburg steak.jpg
Hamburg steak.jpg
File:Oberhafenkantine (Hamburger Rundstück).jpg
Oberhafenkantine (Hamburger Rundstück).jpg
File:Cheeseburger at Louis' Lunch, New Haven.jpg
Cheeseburger at Louis' Lunch, New Haven.jpg
File:NYC-Diner-Bacon-Cheeseburger.jpg
NYC-Diner-Bacon-Cheeseburger.jpg
File:McD_Big_Mac.png
McD_Big_Mac.png
File:McD-McChicken (transparent).png
McD-McChicken (transparent).png
File:Impossible Burger - Gott's Roadside- 2018 - Stierch.jpg
Impossible Burger - Gott's Roadside- 2018...
File:Hamburger in New Zealand.jpg
Hamburger in New Zealand.jpg
File:Roujiamo, La Taverne de Zhao, Paris 17 September 2016.jpg
Roujiamo, La Taverne de Zhao, Paris 17...
File:Danish Beef Sandwich.JPG
Danish Beef Sandwich.JPG
File:Bulgogi burger 2.jpg
Bulgogi burger 2.jpg
File:Taiwan McDonald's chicken rice burger 20050218.jpg
Taiwan McDonald's chicken rice burger 20050218.jpg

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