23 Oh-So-Cheesy Cheeseburger Facts That Are Worth Knowing

Joan Agie
Oct 10, 2023 By Joan Agie
Originally Published on Jan 19, 2022
The exact moment of the invention of hamburgers

Who doesn't love a good hearty cheeseburger?

Cheeseburgers are an extremely popular fast food. The cheeseburger doesn't just satisfy your hunger; it also uplifts your mood with its flavor.

A cheeseburger can be considered a hamburger that has a slice of cheese in it. Originally, hamburgers were invented through inspiration from Hamburg. During the 18th century, German Hamburg cows' beef, after mincing, was mixed with onions, garlic, pepper, and salt. The mix was then shaped into a patty to create the Hamburg steaks.

The notion of a sandwich was developed later on. While the exact moment of the invention of hamburgers is not known, it is generally considered that the hamburger first made an appearance during the 19th or the 20th century.

Typically, in order to make a cheeseburger or even a hamburger, the meat used is ground beef. Ground beef is also called minced beef, which is finely chopped meat.

The ground beef is marinated with seasonings such as salt and pepper, sometimes chili powder too. The meat is then formed into the shape of a patty, which is then fried. The cooked patty is then put in between two halves of a bun topped with sesame seeds and garnished with several toppings.

The popular toppings for the cheeseburger include sliced onions, lettuce, bacon, pickles, and chili. In addition to these toppings, there are several other toppings too that people enjoy on their cheeseburgers, like avocado, tomato, jalapenos, eggs, cheese sauce, guacamole, and so on.

The ingredients, apart from the basic ones, can vary according to the preference of the person eating the burger and the types of burgers offered by a restaurant.

While some people cannot imagine a hamburger or cheeseburger without bacon, pickles, or lettuce, there is something that is a classic accompaniment for burgers. Classic cheeseburgers with a side of fries and ketchup are considered to be a classic combination. Many burger establishments have this basic combo on their menu.

Moreover, a cheeseburger cannot exist without cheese in it. The burger would just be considered a hamburger. In America, most people prefer the cheese in their cheeseburger to be American cheese. Apart from this, the other common cheeses added to the cheeseburger are cheddar cheese and Swiss cheese. Certain brands may offer other cheese varieties too.

Furthermore, while the type of cheese to add to the burger is important, the method of adding cheese is also significant for many people. Typically, a melted slice of cheese is present on top of the patty in the burger.

There are also cheeseburgers made from the patty with cheese inside. This makes the burger's melting cheese ooze out when you bite into it.

The cheeseburgers are non-vegetarian food. The meat in the patty of the cheeseburger makes it something that vegan people cannot eat. As a popular fast food, the cheeseburger has been created using so many variations that it is impossible to think of a new one that is not already available.

Similarly, there are vegetarian cheeseburgers available at some establishments. The vegetarian cheeseburger is created by using a vegetable patty and suitable toppings.

In order to serve the varied preferences of people, many restaurants and other establishments are trying new things to accommodate these preferences. For instance, a typical cheeseburger defies the kosher laws of Judaism, which state that milk and meat cannot be eaten together.

Thus, in New York City, a kosher restaurant developed a cheeseburger variation where instead of American cheese, soy cheese was used. This burger is considered controversial by many people.

Whatever the ingredients used to create the cheeseburger, it will always remain a favorite among the majority of the population. In fact, this fast food is so famous that a specific day is dedicated to celebrating it.

National Cheeseburger Day is always celebrated each year on September 18 in the USA. On this day, burger joints, especially the famous ones, keep several offers on their burgers.

You can use National Cheeseburger Day to enjoy a good burger for yourself too. National Cheeseburger Day can also be celebrated by getting to know more about these burgers, the way they differ from hamburgers, how they were first created, and so on. Read on to explore these facts about the cheeseburger.

History Of The First Cheeseburger

Today, there are many varieties of cheeseburgers available all over the world. But what about the first cheeseburger, the first one ever created? Below is a brief history of the first cheeseburger, invented in 1924.

  • The place where the cheeseburger was first invented was in Pasadena, California.
  • The cheeseburger was an accident of sorts that took place at the Rite Spot in Pasadena during the year 1924.
  • Lionel Sternberger was working one day at the roadside stand with his father, and he accidentally burned a single side of the burger.
  • There are two versions of the story after this moment that are known.
  • One version states that young Sternberger covered the burned side of the burger with cheese and served it to a customer so as not to waste it.
  • The second known version of the story states that a homeless man who came to the roadside stand asked Sternberger to give him as much as he could for the 15 cents that he had, which also included the cheese.
  • Later on, after this incident, the burger with the cheese came to be a regular part of the Rite Spot menu.
  • Sternberger named this burger with cheese the 'Aristocratic Hamburger: The Original Hamburger with Cheese.'
  • There have been many claims to inventing the first-ever cheeseburger, but all these claims have not been able to take the title away from Pasadena.
  • This historic moment has been commemorated by Pasadena City by putting a plaque at the spot where the Rite Spot was originally located.
  • The city of Pasadena further honors this invention by hosting Cheeseburger Week annually in January.

Nutritional Facts About Cheeseburgers

Although cheeseburgers are known to have high calories, there are still some nutritional benefits to this fast food. These nutritional benefits are listed as follows.

  • According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a single patty of a regular cheeseburger along with a bun has 350 calories.
  • The amount of fat in this cheeseburger is about 0.03 lb (13.6 g).
  • There is about 0.07 lb (31.75 g) of carbohydrates present in the cheeseburger.
  • This regular patty of the cheeseburger with bun also contains 0.037 lb (16.78 g) of protein.
  • It also contains small amounts of fiber, sodium, and sugar.
  • The fat in the cheeseburger is mostly saturated fat that comes from the beef in the patty and the cheese.
  • The amount of fat can thus change according to the type of beef and cheese used to make the cheeseburger.
  • While the cheeseburger might not have much sugar, it can be a good source of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and iron.
  • The nutritional values will, of course, vary depending on the type of cheeseburger, how it is prepared, and how you eat it.
  • Eating cheeseburgers frequently can increase the calories in your body.
  • This can prove to be harmful to your health as it can lead to health issues such as high cholesterol, obesity, heart problems, and so on.
  • A cheeseburger is a food that must be enjoyed only occasionally. Doing so can reduce the bad effects it can have on your health.

World's Biggest Cheeseburger

The Guinness World Records contain records for several things. Due to the popularity of the cheeseburger, a record for the largest cheeseburger in the world has also been set.

  • Steve Mallie, the owner of Mallie's Sports Grill & Bar, had started experimenting with the size of the cheeseburger after he learned that the largest cheeseburger in the world was in Japan, according to Guinness World Records.
  • While he had started with a hamburger weighing 10 lb (4.5 kg) initially, after getting the news, he, along with his team, made a 236 lb (107 kg) cheeseburger.
  • This burger, made in 2006, broke the world record which was held at that time.
  • Every year, Mallie and his team kept on increasing the size of their burger.
  • This went on till they had to transform a shipping container into a convection oven in order to accommodate the size of the burger, which has set the current world record.
  • The burger created by Mallie in this oven weighs about 1,796 lb (815 kg).
  • This huge cheeseburger is considered to be the world's biggest commercial cheeseburger.
  • No one has yet tried eating this gigantic burger, but Mallie and his staff are always ready to take an order for the cheeseburger.
  • However, the order has to be made in advance and the money has to be paid in advance too.

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Written by Joan Agie

Bachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

Joan Agie picture

Joan AgieBachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

With 3+ years of research and content writing experience across several niches, especially on education, technology, and business topics. Joan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Anatomy from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, and has worked as a researcher and writer for organizations across Nigeria, the US, the UK, and Germany. Joan enjoys meditation, watching movies, and learning new languages in her free time.

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