Fun Facts About Cheeseburgers
When was the first cheeseburger made? What makes a gourmet cheeseburger? The answers to these questions and similar ones may be of interest to burger fans and creators alike. Keep reading to learn more about the past and present of many people’s favorite type of burger!
Fun Cheeseburger Facts
As with the history of the burger, many people and places contribute to the variety of cheeseburgers as they are known, loved and enjoyed today. As a cookout staple, a crowd-pleasing menu idea, and an opportunity for customization and creativity, cheeseburgers are included in special occasions and everyday meals alike. Accordingly, this food also has a special day set aside to recognize it each year. Find out more about the cheeseburger below!
1. One early moment in cheeseburger history includes a teenager and a slice of American cheese.
As The Spruce Eats details, the teenage Lionel Sternberger worked at his dad’s California sandwich place and, one day, added a slice of American cheese to the hamburger he was cooking. While often a part of the cheeseburger origin story, the location of this burger and its maker may not have been the first or only one serving this type of hamburger nor was it offered here specifically as a cheeseburger. In fact, that particular name wasn’t trademarked until over a decade later by Louis Ballast in Denver.
2. Many different cheeses can be used to make delicious cheeseburgers.
American cheese remains a classic cheeseburger choice largely due to its superior melt factor, as highlighted in Food and Wine's guide to burger cheeses. However, as also noted in this evaluation, it’s not the only one that melts well nor does it necessarily rank as highly in terms of flavor – a discovery you may have already made in trying various gourmet cheeseburgers. Will it remain a favorite cheese for cheeseburgers in the years to come? While the ongoing use of American cheese on cheeseburgers is likely, it may have to share the title of best cheese for cheeseburgers.
3. There is an annual holiday, if an unofficial one, designated for recognizing this beloved type of burger.
September 18 is National Cheeseburger Day – the perfect occasion for treating yourself to a favorite Freddy’s menu selection or making your own gourmet burgers. Excitingly, it’s just one of several food holidays each year that may call for a delicious cheeseburger. In fact, National Double Cheeseburger Day happens just a few days earlier in September and other burger-oriented celebrations happen in other months like National Steakburger Day in February and National Burger Day in August!
Tips for Making Gourmet Cheeseburgers
Ingredient quality and the thoughtful combination of burger components are often important considerations when creating a gourmet burger. Understandably, in creating a gourmet cheeseburger, the choice of cheese and how it’s incorporated matter. Below, find some tips to help you make your own gourmet cheeseburgers, including a few of Freddy’s steakburgers that showcase these approaches.
Try out different cheeses! Specialty cheeses don’t have to be limited to your charcuterie board. Brie, Gouda and other sliceable cheeses can also make flavorful additions to your burgers as can cheese spreads and sauces.
At Freddy’s, a variety of cheeses are featured on our steakburgers. Guests can also customize their burger selections with several cheeseburger favorites, such as American or Swiss cheese or a cheese sauce. On featured limited-time only burgers such as the Pretzel Bacon BBQ Steakburger, guests may also have the opportunity to enjoy unique burger and cheese combinations, such as the American cheese and Fat Tire Beer Cheese paired with the two patties on this steakburger.
Go bold. Some cheeseburger enthusiasts favor a burger in which the cheese provides a creamy, subtle complement that lets the patty's savoriness stand out. Others take advantage of the range of tasty options cheese offers. For individuals who want cheeseburgers that celebrate the cheese and the burger, consider a cheese with a more distinctive flavor. For example, the pepper jack cheese on the Jalapeño Pepper Jack Double adds a little kick to this burger experience, in addition to the fire-roasted jalapeños and Freddy’s Famous Jalapeño Fry Sauce®.
Experiment with multiple cheeses. Aside from loving more than one type of cheese for a cheeseburger, you might also include more than one cheese choice on a burger. Each one can offer its own unique flavor and texture to a burger. To explore the benefits of two cheeses, both Swiss and American, and the use of more than one slice of each, consider ordering the Grilled Cheese Steakburger the next time you visit your local Freddy’s!
From the single patty with an individual slice of American cheese to the gourmet cheeseburger, it’s incredible just how much a single topping brings to the burger experience. Whether you are craving a Freddy’s Original Bacon and Cheese Double or in search of burger bar catering for your next event, place your order today at the Freddy’s near you!