The term hamburger is derived from Hamburg, Germany, where a similar style of minced beef patty was popularized in the 19th century. German immigrants brought the dish to the United States.
White Castle, founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas, is considered the oldest fast-food hamburger chain. Their small, square burgers, known as sliders, set the standard for fast-food burgers.
The largest hamburger ever made weighed 2,566 pounds (1,164 kg) and was created in Minnesota in 2012. It included a massive bun, cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes.
Americans eat about 50 billion burgers each year. That's roughly three burgers per person per week!
The most expensive burger in the world is the "FleurBurger 5000" at Fleur in Las Vegas, which costs $5,000. It includes Kobe beef, foie gras, black truffle, and comes with a bottle of 1995 Chateau Petrus wine.
The most common burger toppings are cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, ketchup, and mustard. However, more adventurous options like avocado, fried eggs, and even peanut butter are becoming popular.
Introduced in 1957, the Whopper is one of the most iconic burgers globally. It's known for its large size and flame-grilled flavor.
The Big Mac, introduced in 1967, is one of the most famous burgers in the world. It features a special sauce, two all-beef patties, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and a three-part sesame seed bun.
With the rise of vegetarianism and veganism, plant-based burgers like the Impossible Burger and Beyond Burger have gained immense popularity, offering meat-like taste and texture.
The world record for the most burgers eaten in one sitting is held by Joey Chestnut, who devoured 103 Krystal burgers in 8 minutes during a competition in 2007.
While World Burger Day is celebrated in May, there's also a National Cheeseburger Day celebrated in the U.S. on September 18.
The first drive-thru burger joint is credited to In-N-Out Burger in California, which opened in 1948. Their drive-thru system revolutionized fast food.
In 2012, a group of friends from London launched a hamburger into space using a weather balloon. It reached an altitude of 112,000 feet before descending back to Earth.
Numerous cities around the world hold annual burger festivals, where food lovers can sample a variety of unique and gourmet burgers. Some of the most famous include the New York City Burger Week and the Burger Fest in Chicago.
There are numerous patents related to burgers, including patents for specific bun designs, methods of cooking patties, and even for certain types of burger wrappers.