4 Facts about Hamburgers — Juicy Burger Bits to Indulge In

Despite being a classic American meal, hamburgers have a surprising origin outside of the U.S. and also have other interesting tidbits. Continue reading to learn more about hamburgers with these 4 fun facts.

Over the years, hamburgers have become popular in America and have become the poster child for fast food in the U.S. However, you might be surprised to know that hamburgers aren't even American, despite the great number of hamburgers Americans consume in a year.

To find out more about the mind-blowing amount of hamburgers Americans eat annually, the history behind this beloved meal, and more, indulge in these 4 juicy facts about hamburgers.

A smiling woman holding a hamburger | Source: Getty Images

4 Facts about Hamburgers

1. Officially, the largest hamburger in the world weighed over 1000 kgs and was cooked in 2017.

According to Guinness World Records, the largest hamburger in the world was made in Pilsting, Germany, in July 2017 by Wolfgang Leeb, Tom Reicheneder, Rudi Dietl, Josef Zellner, Hans Maurer, and Christian Dischinger.

The hamburger weighed 1,164.2 kg (2,566 lb, 9 oz) and consisted of three meat patties, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, onions, hamburger sauce, and a bun.

A massive hamburger | Source: Getty Images

2. White Castle was the first hamburger fast-food chain in America.

White Cheddar, a Columbus, Ohio-based hamburger fast food chain, opened in 1921 and has since been regarded as the first fast-food hamburger chain in America.

The family-owned company first became an instant hit for its cheap burgers and has expanded over the years to include over 350 restaurants.

3. Hamburger got its name from Germany.

As history tells it, hamburgers originated from a German dish known as Hamburg steak. The now classic American meal was named after the German City Hamburg and was brought to American shores with European immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The originally German dish —which doesn't even have any ham — was shortened from Hamburg steaks to Hamburgs, and then over time, it became known as hamburgers as the recipe evolved as well.

A man eating a hamburger | Source: Getty Images

4. A 2022 study found that Oregon, Arizona, and Utah were the top 3 U.S. states that ate the most hamburgers.

A hamburger | Source: Getty Images

Now that you know a little more about hamburgers, the next time you get your hands on one, you can enjoy its savory taste knowing its rich history. For more food-related facts, here are a few fun facts about grapes.