essay about hamburgers

• History Classics
• Your Profile
• Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window)
• This Day In History
• History Podcasts
• History Vault

Where Hamburgers Began—and How They Became an Iconic American Food

By: Nate Barksdale

Updated: January 6, 2021 | Original: August 29, 2014

The hamburger is one of the world’s most popular foods, with nearly 50 billion served up annually in the United States alone. Although the humble beef-patty-on-a-bun is technically not much more than 100 years old, it's part of a far greater lineage, linking American businessmen, World War II soldiers, German political refugees, medieval traders and Neolithic farmers. 

READ MORE: Why Do Humans Eat Meat?

Ground Beef Comes to America

The groundwork for the ground-beef sandwich was laid with the domestication of cattle (in Mesopotamia around 10,000 years ago), and with the growth of Hamburg, Germany, as an independent trading city in the 12th century, where beef delicacies were popular. 

Jump ahead to 1848, when political revolutions shook the 39 states of the German Confederation, spurring an increase in German immigration to the United States. With German people came German food: beer gardens flourished in American cities, while butchers offered a panoply of traditional meat preparations. Because Hamburg was known as an exporter of high-quality beef, restaurants began offering a “Hamburg-style” chopped steak.

In mid-19th-century America, preparations of raw beef that had been chopped, chipped, ground or scraped were a common prescription for digestive issues. After a New York doctor, James H. Salisbury suggested in 1867 that cooked beef patties might be just as healthy, cooks and physicians alike quickly adopted the “Salisbury Steak”. Around the same time, the first popular meat grinders for home use became widely available (Salisbury endorsed one called the American Chopper) setting the stage for an explosion of readily available ground beef.

WATCH: Full episodes of  The Food That Built America  online now. New episodes premiere Sundays at 9/8c on HISTORY.

The Hamburger Becomes a Fast Food Staple

The hamburger seems to have made its jump from plate to bun in the last decades of the 19th century, though the site of this transformation is highly contested. Lunch wagons, fair stands and roadside restaurants in Wisconsin, Connecticut, Ohio, New York and Texas have all been put forward as possible sites of the hamburger’s birth. Whatever its genesis, the burger-on-a-bun found its first wide audience at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, which also introduced millions of Americans to new foods ranging from waffle ice cream cones and cotton candy to peanut butter and iced tea.

Two years later, though, disaster struck in the form of Upton Sinclair’s journalistic novel The Jungle , which detailed the unsavory side of the American meatpacking industry. Industrial ground beef was easy to adulterate with fillers, preservatives and meat scraps, and the hamburger became a prime suspect.

The hamburger might have remained on the seamier margins of American cuisine were it not for the vision of Edgar “Billy” Ingram and Walter Anderson, who opened their first White Castle restaurant in Kansas in 1921. Sheathed inside and out in gleaming porcelain and stainless steel, White Castle countered hamburger meat’s low reputation by becoming bastions of cleanliness, health and hygiene (Ingram even commissioned a medical school study to show the health benefits of hamburgers). His system, which included on-premise meat grinding, worked well and was the inspiration for other national hamburger chains founded in the boom years after World War II: McDonald’s and In-N-Out Burger (both founded in 1948), Burger King (1954) and Wendy’s (1969).

Led by McDonald’s (and helped by the introduction abroad of U.S. hamburger culture by millions of members of the American armed services during World War II), the hamburger—and American-style franchised fast-food—soon spread globally . 

Sign up for Inside History

Get HISTORY’s most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.

More details : Privacy Notice | Terms of Use | Contact Us

Essays on Hamburger

How to turn the high school “hamburger” essay into a university-level paper

It goes by many names: the 5-paragraph essay, three-tier paper, or 1-3-1 model, to name a few. Many of you know it as the “hamburger” essay – an easy-to-follow model for writing papers that’s often taught in North American high schools.

During my first semester of undergrad, I heard it again and again from my professors and TAs: don't submit a hamburger essay. "Forget everything you learned in high school," they told me, "university writing is different!"

I had always done well on my high school writing assignments. I thought essay writing in university would be a breeze. So, the idea of throwing away all my past knowledge and practice felt confusing and overwhelming. If I wasn’t supposed to write essays in university the same way I wrote them in high school, then how was I supposed to write at all? And where was I supposed to learn these mysterious new writing techniques, anyway?

Now, after many years of honing my academic writing skills and becoming a writing instructor myself, I’m here to say, loud and proud:  I love the hamburger essay.

This is somewhat of a controversial statement in higher education. For years, many professors have condemned the “hamburger” model of essay writing, resenting its rules and restrictions. And while many of these critiques are valid, I believe there are too many valuable aspects of the hamburger essay to throw it away altogether. In fact, many of the  same techniques  that make a hamburger essay great, can also be used to craft a quality academic paper.

So no, you don’t need to “forget everything you learned in high school” when it comes time to write your first university essay! Keep reading to learn how you can use turn your high school hamburger essay into a strong university-level paper.

What is the hamburger essay?

The hamburger essay is well-known and well-loved because of its simple and easy to remember structure. If you're new to the hamburger essay, check out the diagram below to learn more about how it works.

In short, each ingredient of the hamburger represents a different paragraph of the essay. It starts with an introduction paragraph and ends with a conclusion paragraph, represented by the top and bottom buns, respectively. Just like a real burger bun, these paragraphs frame the juicy contents inside – the body paragraphs – which are each represented by a different topping: lettuce, tomato, or patty.

Pay attention to the order of toppings in the hamburger essay. The lettuce comes first; it’s light and flimsy, representing one of the lighter arguments of the paper. The tomato is somewhat more robust (in terms of argument), while the patty at the end is the true “meat” of the essay. Just like the toppings of a hamburger in real-life, the body paragraphs build on one another to fill out the paper, giving it substance and flavour.

How to use the hamburger model in university

If you’re already familiar with the hamburger or 5-paragraph essay model, there are many great aspects of it that you can keep and adapt in your university essay writing . Keep reading to learn how!

1. The top bun (a.k.a the introduction paragraph)

The hamburger essay begins with a strong introduction paragraph (the top bun) that sets up the rest of the paper and presents the essay’s primary  thesis statement  or argument. In high school, students are often taught to begin their introduction paragraph with the broadest or most general information first, and gradually narrow in on the specifics. They’re also taught to begin the introduction with a narrative hook – a catchy phrase or fact to grab the reader’s attention – and to end the introduction with a “road map,” which outlines what each paragraph of the essay will discuss, in the order of information presented.

Although at the university level, introductions may be longer than one paragraph (depending on the length of the essay overall), they should still begin with more general contextual information first, then narrow in on a more focused thesis statement . This structure helps guide the reader by presenting them with the background information they require for the thesis and body paragraphs to make sense.

You can also keep the introductory “hook” and “road map” pieces of the hamburger introduction, but note the differences in what these elements look like at the university level. While high school writers often try to catch the reader’s attention by asserting a universal or historical truth (e.g. “Since the dawn of time…” or “Throughout history…”), a hook at the university level should  remain focused on the specific topic at hand  – a surprising fact or statistic works well here.

Additionally, while a high school-level road map might outline the topic of each and every body paragraph in the essay, a university-level road map should be less detailed. Because university papers are typically longer than high school papers, it makes more sense to only mention the paper’s main overarching arguments  (if at all) in the road map section, rather than summarize every paragraph.

To learn more about how to write a strong university-level introduction,  check out this WCC resource  on introductions.

2. The bottom bun (a.k.a. the conclusion paragraph)

The hamburger essay ends with a satisfying conclusion paragraph (the bottom bun) that summarizes its findings and wraps up the paper’s arguments. High school students are often taught to structure their conclusion paragraph in the reverse order of the introduction,  beginning with the most specific information and broadening out to the most general . Hamburger essay conclusions often restate the thesis at the start of the paragraph, then go on to summarize each point of the essay.

At the university level, you should continue to structure your conclusion by presenting the most specific pieces of information related to your thesis first, followed by the more general ideas. Structuring your conclusion this way helps  transition the reader out of the paper’s arguments and into a broader reflection on the topic .

However,  you don’t have to limit yourself to only one paragraph  for your conclusion (hint: introductions and conclusions typically make up 10-15% of the essay length overall). And while it’s good practice to remind your reader of the essay’s main arguments and findings, too much repetition can be a bore. Try focusing instead on the  significance  of the paper’s claims and discoveries to highlight for the reader why your essay matters – why your thesis is significant in a larger context.

For deeper insight into how to write a university-level conclusion,  view our conclusions resource  here.

3. The toppings (a.k.a. the body paragraphs)

The body paragraphs of a hamburger essay are its meatiest parts (pun intended). In high school, students are often taught to explain, and provide evidence for, their main thesis by presenting three distinct points in three separate body paragraphs, ordered roughly from the weakest point to the strongest. In this model, each body paragraph supports the essay’s thesis by providing a new piece of information to back-up the author’s primary claim. Also, each paragraph articulates its main point in a single topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph.

For university essays, there’s a lot to like about the hamburger essay paragraph model. For example, it’s important that each paragraph of your university-level paper works to substantiate the paper's overarching thesis statement . This will prevent your essay from going off on tangents – that is, presenting ideas or research that are not directly related to the essay's focused goal. You should also pay attention to the order of ideas presented; while ordering your points from weakest to strongest (as in the hamburger model) isn’t necessary, there should be a  logical flow to your ideas . Ask yourself: what does my reader need to understand first in order to understand what’s coming next?

Topic sentences are also super useful in academic papers : they help alert the reader to the paragraph’s main idea and provide context for the evidence presented within the paragraph itself. In a traditional academic essay, readers should be able to read the first sentence (or two) of each paragraph only, and still have a strong idea of the paper’s main arguments and points.

However,  university-level essays can – and should – have more than three body paragraphs . This is perhaps the biggest complaint against the hamburger essay structure: that it tricks students into thinking they can only provide three pieces of evidence to back-up their thesis statements. Academic essays, especially research essays, should present the reader with a great breadth of evidence and information to prove their claims. It’s up to you – the writer – to decide how much evidence is needed, and how it can be organized logically into body paragraphs for the reader to follow.

On a similar note,  some points in your academic paper will require more than one body paragraph to develop,  and that’s ok! Let’s say, for example, that you’re writing an essay on the benefits of free community programming for reducing loneliness amongst senior citizens. It may take only one paragraph to present your research on loneliness amongst seniors, but maybe three or four paragraphs to show why publicly-funded programs are attractive to senior citizens in particular.

While some students believe, based on the hamburger model, that each new paragraph requires a brand new topic or point, in reality, there is more flexibility to the “rules” of academic writing. As long as each of your paragraphs is tackling one coherent idea at a time,  you may choose to develop a single point over numerous body paragraphs . This is especially true if you have a lot of evidence to discuss!

To learn more about how to write strong body paragraphs at the university level,   check out this WCC resource   on body paragraphs.

Final thoughts…

Keep in mind that  every writing assignment in university is different  and not all papers follow the traditional essay format. In fact, most essay assignments come with specific guidelines from the professor, which you should always follow with care, and ask questions about if you’re unsure.

If you’re transitioning from high school and looking for help with your writing projects, why not check out our new program for first-years, Waterloo Ready to Write ! Or book an appointment with one of our friendly and helpful writing instructors at the WCC. We would love to help you out.

Writing essays in university can be intimidating, especially if you’re new at it. But remember, you’re here for a reason, and you’ve already got a great foundation to start from! Try to think about writing in university as an extension and adaptation of what you already know. If you have an open mind, take your professors’ feedback to heart, and push yourself to try new things, you’ll be setting yourself up for success.

Find anything you save across the site in your account

It’s Never Just About the Burger: The Ethical Pitfalls of a Food Critic’s Viral Essay

By Helen Rosner

The promise of an extraordinary hamburger can lead a person to do extraordinary things. Culinary literature—from cookbooks to magazine spreads to travel guides—is chockablock with instructions for making, seeking out, and strategizing the consumption of the supreme patty, the ideal garnish, the perfect bun, and the exquisite gestalt of the meat sandwich entire. With all of this, burgers lend themselves beautifully to list-making: the most expensive, the most elaborate, the most nostalgic. And, of course, the emperor of lists: the best burger.

In 2016, Kevin Alexander, a writer for Thrillist, an online men’s-interest publication, embarked on a year-long journey across America, eating at hundreds of restaurants in search of the nation’s single superlative hamburger. The one that earned a spot at the very top of his resulting “ 100 Best ” was “Nick’s” cheeseburger with grilled onions, served at Stanich’s, a small, family-owned sports bar in Portland, Oregon, that had, in its nearly seventy years of operation, been slinging patties for weekend revellers and victorious Little League teams alike. “This burger is a national treasure,” Alexander wrote.

In January of this year, seven months after Alexander had anointed this neighborhood joint, Stanich’s abruptly closed. The Oregonian , the state’s largest daily newspaper, quoted Steve Stanich , the restaurant’s second-generation proprietor, as saying that the Thrillist article was “the worst thing that’s ever happened to us.” The author of the story, Michael Russell, agreed, writing that after the publication of Alexander’s list he noticed a disturbing change in the small, wood-panelled establishment. “I’ve been back a couple of times since the award, and both times found myself waiting at least 45 minutes for a simple cheeseburger and fries. Staff seemed overwhelmed.” The sign in the window of Stanich’s said that it was closed for an employee vacation, but, as the weeks stretched into months, it became clear that the restaurant wouldn’t be reopening anytime soon.

Alexander, curious and a bit guilt-racked by this turn of events, went back to Portland a few months ago to find out what had happened—had his endorsement really carried such destructive weight? He sought out Steve Stanich for a face-to-face reckoning. The result was a viral essay titled “I Found the Best Burger Place in America. And Then I Killed It,” which inspired fervent praise and some fervent criticism, too. Some raised their eyebrows at Alexander’s apparent belief in his own godlike influence. Portland residents noted that Stanich’s had not exactly been unknown before Alexander showed up—just a few years after the restaurant opened, in 1949, the Oregonian named its burger the “world’s greatest.” Staunch capitalists argued that the fault lay entirely with Stanich for his failure to adapt to increased demand by expanding or franchising his business.

But the piece was shared with particular urgency among members of the media, who never miss a chance to sombrely reflect upon our profession’s enormous power to effect change. Many readers— myself included —walked away from Alexander’s article despairing at the human cost of the sort of national acclaim that, for so many restaurants, is the brass ring. Best-of lists summon customers with brutal efficiency—some of them locals, lured by a word of praise in Food & Wine or Esquire to check out that place down the street they had never really got around to, but many of them are tourists seeking out these pre-approved restaurants as one-off destinations. For a neighborhood place like Stanich’s, the ratio of regulars to one-timers can end up out of whack, undermining the same local charm and familial vibe that may have landed the restaurant a spot on a list in the first place, and making life miserable for the people who liked the restaurant the way it was. (While this phenomenon has been amplified in the Internet era, it’s nothing new: Kenny Shopsin, the late proprietor of Manhattan’s idiosyncratic Shopsin’s restaurant, was famous for giving false information to guidebooks in order to keep “review trotters” away from his door.)

“They weren’t invested in the restaurant’s success, but instead in having a public-facing opinion of a well known place,” Alexander writes of those in-and-out customers who, with each triumphant Instagram post, leech away a neighborhood restaurant’s neighborliness. The journalists who make the lists, like Alexander (and me), end up destroying the very things we seek to celebrate, our loving embrace so crushing that it suffocates. In the wake of Alexander’s piece, chefs and restaurateurs shared their own tales of spotlight-induced misery: customers pouring in the door in numbers well beyond the kitchen’s capacity, the resulting diminished quality of the food and experience, the inevitable aftershock of indignant Yelp reviews.

Then, this week, Alexander’s burger meta-chronicle took yet another turn. In his original essay, Stanich had alluded to “personal problems” that were a factor in the restaurant’s closing, though he requested to go off-record when he spoke about what exactly those issues were—“the type of serious things that can happen with any family, and would’ve happened regardless of how crowded Stanich’s was,” Alexander wrote, bringing to mind something like a serious illness, or a rough patch in a long marriage. A report in Willamette Week , published on Wednesday by the journalist Matthew Singer, uncovered court records revealing matters far more grave. In 2014, Stanich had been arrested for choking his wife in front of their teen-age son; he pleaded no contest and was sentenced to four years of probation, which he reportedly violated multiple times in subsequent years, including, according to court documents, by pursuing “offensive contact” with his now-ex-wife, who had worked as a manager at Stanich’s for nearly two decades before being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer.

Alexander admitted that he’d learned of Stanich’s 2014 charges before interviewing him but chose not to pursue the matter. “My piece was a reflection on the role of food critic and the responsibility journalists have to preserve the places we write about,” he wrote in a statement sent to me by way of a representative at Thrillist. (An editor’s note has also been added to Alexander’s original story.) “I tried to approach the issue thoughtfully but not investigatively. Through research into Steve’s background I did come across his 2014 harassment conviction, but I failed to investigate the details. I deeply regret not digging deeper on this.”

It’s tempting to think that Alexander’s “I killed Stanich’s” piece fell victim to the same shortcomings he flagellates himself for with his original burger list: an outsider’s clumsiness in sharing a local story, with unexpectedly damaging results. But Portland’s local media seemed just as taken aback by Willamette Week’s discovery as the rest of us. (When Alexander’s essay was published, Russell, the Oregonian writer, praised it as “a gimlet-eyed exploration of list culture.”) Alexander has not revealed what exactly Stanich told him when the two discussed Stanich’s “personal problems.” In a phone call on Thursday afternoon, Stanich told me that he has “found God,” and “made amends with everyone I know, including my family.” He also insisted, as he did to Willamette Week , that his arrest had “nothing to do with” his restaurant’s closing. It seems possible that Alexander’s broad version of the story—of a restaurant succumbing to a fatal overdose of good fortune—is true, though Stanich told me that the restaurant is planning to “reopen for the Christmas holidays,” and served a private party just yesterday. Either way, Alexander’s elision of Stanich’s legal history is a bruising reminder of how easily violence committed by men against women slips into the realm of the uninteresting, and from there to the realm of the forgotten. As Jezebel put it , perhaps Alexander was willing to accept Stanich’s version of events because it better “supported Alexander’s own myth-making.” At best, his depiction of a beleaguered small-business owner who had struggled to “take care of the people who took care of me” was woefully incomplete.

What if Alexander had learned nothing of Stanich’s conviction in the course of his reporting? Is it fair to expect a restaurant reporter to run a public-records search on the subject of a burger story? The stakes, in food journalism, have changed rapidly in recent years—a once-cushy beat that was largely divorced from hard-news concerns is now being recognized as a battleground for issues of sexual assault, immigration, labor issues, and financial fraud. With this comes a responsibility among writers to see restaurants more holistically, not only as places that put food on a plate but as complex social organisms. Even the smallest, most casual operations involve communities of employees, communities of customers, dramas both private and public, and the two can’t always in good faith be separated. A burger story is rarely about just the burger; it’s also rarely about just the critic. Alexander clearly intended for his essay on Stanich’s demise to spark a conversation about journalistic responsibility. In the end—though not quite in the way he anticipated—it has.

An earlier version of this article misstated the name of Michael Russell.

The Food Scene

By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

clock This article was published more than  2 years ago

Who invented the hamburger? Biting into the messy history of America’s iconic sandwich.

Hamburger history is dripping with lies.

One popular story goes that in 1900 a customer walked into Louis’ Lunch in New Haven, Conn., and asked for something he could eat on the go. Owner Louis Lassen improvised by giving him a patty of the restaurant’s steak trimmings between two pieces of toast. The customer got his carryout lunch, and the world got the hamburger sandwich.

The story has been repeated many times by Connecticut and national publications, but I have recently found proof it is not true.

Lassen may well have conceived of his sandwich on the spur of the moment, but at that point many U.S. businesses were serving hamburgers.

Beefy burger recipes, from classic to creative

In January I wrote a story that raised questions about Louis’ Lunch’s standing as the birthplace of the hamburger. However, I was not able to definitively disprove the claim. After the story ran, a reader named Thomas Pieragostini emailed me a link to a series of ads that appeared in the Shiner Gazette in Texas in the spring of 1894 that advertised “hamburger steak sandwiches” being served at a local saloon.

This early burger reference inspired me to dig deeper, and I have since found more than a dozen newspaper references to hamburgers in the 1890s, including in Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, California and Hawaii. These findings debunk the Louis’ Lunch claim and suggest other burger origin stories are not true, either. In Wisconsin, many claim the burger was invented by Charlie Nagreen, who purportedly sold a meatball between two slices of bread at an 1885 fair in Seymour. In Athens, Tex., the title of “hamburger creator” is bestowed upon Fletcher Davis, who supposedly came up with it in the 1880s. Other burger origin stories can be found in New York, Oklahoma and elsewhere, but they lack documentation.

It turns out chopped meat served between or inside bread is nearly as ancient as civilization.

“A first-century A.D. Roman cookbook by Apicius has a recipe in it that is suspiciously close to the modern burger, a minced meat patty blended with crushed nuts and heavily spiced and cooked,” says George Motz, a filmmaker and author who has researched burger history extensively.

In the mid-1700s, “The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy” by Hannah Glasse carried a “Hamburgh sausages” recipe, which was served on toasted bread. In Germany, a meat patty on bread called Rundstück Warm was popular by at least 1869.

8 Memorial Day grilling recipes to kick off cookout season

But the true precursor to the burger we know today seems to be an inexpensive dish called hamburger steak, which began appearing on American menus in the early 1870s. (A menu, allegedly from Delmonico’s in New York City in 1834, listed the dish. It was eventually exposed as a fake.)

These minced beef and onion patties were served on a plate, not bread, and took their name from choice cows raised in the countryside around Hamburg that supposedly provided the beef. Originally, the meat was minced by hand, but as meat grinders became more available in the late 1800s, so did hamburger steaks. By the 1880s, hamburger steaks were available at restaurants across the country. Often these steaks were served in locations that also served bread and sandwiches.

Given the frequent proximity of hamburger steak and bread — buns came later — combining these foods doesn’t seem like the work of a culinary genius. Instead, it appears to be a natural evolution.

By the late 1880s, hamburger steaks were popular across the United States. In 1887 a New York lodging house advertised “a bowl of coffee, hamburger steak and bread” for 10 cents. A few years later, in 1891, the Boston Globe carried an ad for a butcher shop selling a cookbook with a recipe for “hamburger on toast.”

A blurb in the July 25, 1893 edition of the Reno Gazette-Journal in Reno, Nev., announced that Tom Fraker had taken over the lunch counter at a local saloon, noting “Tom prides himself on his ability to make hamburger sandwiches.”

The following month, an ad boasted Fraker’s “celebrated Hamburger steak sandwiches are always on hand to replenish an empty stomach and fortify even Satan himself.”

Such a sinful association was not uncommon during the early burger history. Sold primarily at saloons and all-night lunch carts that catered to factory shift workers, the dish, at least in the imagination of polite society, seemed to have “something of the night” about it.

“‘They love darkness whose deeds are evil,’ is probably as good a reason as any why Hamburg steaks are cooked and eaten on the streets at night,” begins an 1894 San Francisco Chronicle account of street carts selling hamburger sandwiches. “A popular demand for this luxury at 2 o'clock in the morning has added a strong flavor of onion to that delicious combination of odors which surprises and delights the stranger who visits the business portion of this city between twilight and dawn.”

As I dug deeper into the burger’s history, I found that historian Andrew F. Smith had discussed some of these burger references from the 1890s in his 2008 book, “ Hamburger: A Global History .” Even so, regional burger-origin stories, or what Smith calls “hamburger fakelore,” continue to be taken as gospel in parts of the United States.

Folklorist Lucy Long says factually shaky tales of historic food “firsts” extend beyond the burger. “It’s very, very common for these origin stories to be claimed,” adds Long, the founder and director of the Center for Food and Culture .

Having the “first” of any food helps draw customers, Long explains. But they are also fueled by how that food ties in with our sense of place and identity.

“History is always a selection of what happened in the past along with an interpretation,” Long says. “People hear something, it makes sense to them, they like the image that it presents, so they start presenting it as history.”

Pieragostini, whose tip helped lead me down the burger rabbit hole, understands this pride. He used to have a local access TV show called “Connecticut Stories'' and has defended Connecticut “firsts.” Pieragostini’s great uncle patented the stoves used at Louis’ Lunch, and Pieragostini was a longtime defender of that burger origin story.

But when Pieragostini unearthed an 1894 ad for “hamburger steak sandwiches'' at a Texas saloon, he reached out to me to help set the record straight. “I was a little shocked,” he says, “but not disappointed, because you’ve got to find the truth.”

Read more on Voraciously :

Black barbecue gets a long-overdue spotlight in two new books

10 ingredients you should be storing in your freezer, according to our readers

What’s the best hard seltzer? We tried 18 new flavors to find out.

Eat Cheeseburgers: An Essay

I had fun writing this essay with my son.

Hamburgers and cheeseburgers are part of the American way of life. Families across the country enjoy socializing and grilling burgers in their backyards or at the park. Visit the city, and you’ll see several restaurants that sell burgers lining the streets. We know why. It’s that juicy piece of ground beef slathered in cheese and ketchup with a slice of bacon or two calling our names:  Jimmy, Tommy, Susie . That satisfying bite of bread with the perfect bacon-y crunch filling our mouths, the delicious flavor of a beautifully cooked beef patty with creamy cheddar, pepper jack, or Monterey jack cheese can bring us to our knees, especially if we wait too long to indulge. Some people like their burgers with lettuce and tomato, maybe a pickle or two, adding the perfect balance of cool crispness to the warm meat promising juicy, beefy wonderment.  Though many believe differently, we all need to eat at least one cheeseburger a week.

Now that we’ve established that cheeseburgers taste good, (All of you can almost taste that juicy beef, right?) let me give you two more reasons why we all need to eat a genuine, fully-authentic cheeseburger, in all its beefy glory at least once a week.

First, iron. Red meat is a great source of iron. In fact, it’s such a great source, both Healthline.com and the Red Cross discuss beef as a way to increase your iron levels. Healthline.com’s Franziska Spritzler, a nutrition and dietitian expert, states, “Red meat is satisfying and nutritious. A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of ground beef contains 2.7 mg of iron, which is 15% of the RDI.”  (Spritzler)  RDI stands for  recommended daily intake . Basically, Franziska is telling us to eat at least a quarter-pounder a week. The day we do that, we meet roughly 15% of our recommended daily intake in a single sitting! Imagine eating that double quarter-pounder. Come on, I know you want it! 30% RDI here we come!

The Red Cross, takers of our rich, iron-filled blood, wants us to know that meats such as beef, fish, and poultry are rich in heme iron. About 30% of the heme iron, which comes from meat, is absorbed fast! Compare that rate to the rate of non-heme iron’s 2–10% that we absorb from nuts and dark green veggies, and…well, grab that burger!   (American Red Cross)

Still, there’s that other reason we should eat a cheeseburger a week. How many of you crave incredible cheeseburgers in all their beefy goodness, but try to avoid them because you feel like you’ll lose control? Maybe eat one a day instead of one a week? Worse? Does anyone eat more than one a day? This is information you won’t want to ignore: scheduling a time to give in to your cravings helps you eat healthier! Sounds crazy, right? I know. But it isn’t. EatRight.com says, “A balanced eating plan that allows foods you enjoy — even high-fat, high-calorie foods — will be easier to maintain since you aren’t eliminating those foods outright from your life.”  (Wolfram)  When you eliminate the food you crave completely, those cravings become overwhelming. And if you give into them, watch out — you’ll become an overeating cheeseburger monster…the Hamburglar. We don’t want that, so schedule that cheeseburger craving. That’s what Gramma Jo did.

Who is Gramma Jo? Gramma Jo is perhaps the single, best grandmother anyone could have. Why? Lots of reasons, but mostly because she adopted Saturday night cheeseburgers. That’s right, my mother grew up eating a cheeseburger every single Saturday. Most of the time, they grilled them on the grill in the backyard, but after an especially exhausting Saturday on the lake, the whole family could usually be found at a local hamburger eatery. Better yet, Gramma Jo serves cheeseburgers every Christmas Eve. She understands the necessity of feeding the craving instead of the Hamburglar.

People against eating burgers will tell you they’re unhealthy. We’ve already proven they have a nutritional value when eaten occasionally as opposed to daily. However, there are still people who believe eating beef does a disservice to a cow. You’re killing it — that’s true. But, keep in mind, these cows are raised for the specific purpose of feeding hungry American teenagers. Now, if you worry about the treatment of the cow while it’s alive, don’t. You have a choice in the type of ground beef you purchase. Companies like the Arizona Grass Fed Beef Co. raise their cattle on free ranges with cowboys, just like in the olden days. Those cows are happy eating grasses, bushes, and the occasional flower right off the plain. They get more than that, too, they can enjoy the sun, the light breeze, and as much romping space and water as they can handle. When the trip to the slaughterhouse comes, cows trot in and death comes quickly, causing no pain.  (Arizona Grass Raised Beef Co.)  Another consideration, if you want that heme iron, something’s going to die, so you can choose — chicken, turkey, fish…cow.

Other than religious reasons, what shouldn’t you eat a cheeseburger once a week? Don’t believe the naysayers. Give in to what you know is right, be like Gramma Jo, grill it, fry it, buy it, however you get it, eat it. Eat a big, delicious, juicy cheeseburger topped with bacon and crisp veggies at least once a week. Relish the juicy flavor. Revel in its goodness. Get that important heme iron (that is so necessary for your health) straight from the steer. Something was going to die anyway. Feel the iron flow through your blood, pumping up your hemoglobin, rushing oxygen to your brain, heart, and stomach. You deserve it, we all do.

Laughter and social media shares are always appreciated!

• Link to facebook
• Link to linkedin
• Link to twitter
• Link to youtube
• Writing Tips

Hamburger Paragraph Template for Essay Writing

3-minute read

• 3rd November 2023

It almost sounds like something you might see on a menu at a fast-food restaurant, but a “hamburger paragraph” is a method of essay writing often taught in schools to help students structure their paragraphs effectively. Just as a burger consists of various layers that come together to create a satisfying whole, an essay is built up of paragraphs that follow a specific structure.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the concept of a hamburger paragraph and how it can serve as a handy template for essay writing.

Hamburger Paragraph Template

The template below lists the “ingredients” of a hamburger paragraph:

Top Bun (Topic Sentence):

Introduce the main idea of the paragraph .

Filling (Supporting Detail #1):

Introduce your first supporting detail or example that backs up your main idea.

Filling (Supporting Detail #2):

Introduce your second supporting detail or example.

Filling (Supporting Detail #3):

Introduce your third supporting detail or example. Note: Depending on the depth required, you may have more or fewer supporting details.

Bottom Bun (Concluding Sentence):

Wrap up the paragraph by restating or summarizing the main idea – or transition to the next paragraph . Ensure that every main point or idea presented in the paragraph is well-supported and rounded off with a conclusion or transition.

Example of a Hamburger Paragraph Using the Template

Here’s a paragraph about dogs written following the hamburger paragraph method:

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

Dogs have a reputation for being loyal companions.

Filling #1:

Historically, dogs have been known to travel vast distances to reunite with their owners.

Filling #2:

Many breeds have been specifically bred for their loyalty traits, such as Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds.

Filling #3:

Pet owners’ personal experiences further support the claim, with countless stories of dogs displaying unwavering loyalty in various situations.

Bottom Bun:

With their history, breeding, and the personal anecdotes of many, it’s clear why dogs are cherished for their loyalty.

The  hamburger template assists writers, especially those new to essay writing, in assembling a well-structured essay, helping them organize their thoughts and research into a logical format that readers can easily follow. Students can use this structure to ensure they’re fleshing out their ideas adequately and maintaining a logical flow throughout their essays.

So next time you’re writing an essay, think of your paragraphs as a delicious stack of hamburger paragraphs, with each one adding a unique flavor to your overall composition. If you’d like a professional proofreader to review your essay and its structure once you’ve completed your first draft, we’d be happy to help. Check out our essay proofreading services , or try us out by submitting a free sample !

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

What is a content editor.

Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...

4-minute read

The Benefits of Using an Online Proofreading Service

Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...

2-minute read

6 Online AI Presentation Maker Tools

Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...

What Is Market Research?

No matter your industry, conducting market research helps you keep up to date with shifting...

8 Press Release Distribution Services for Your Business

In a world where you need to stand out, press releases are key to being...

How to Get a Patent

In the United States, the US Patent and Trademarks Office issues patents. In the United...

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

Essay on Burger

Students are often asked to write an essay on Burger in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Burger

What is a burger.

A burger is a popular food that has a cooked patty, usually made from beef, placed between two halves of a bun. Many people like to add cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and sauces to make it tastier.

History of Burgers

Burgers started in the United States and have become famous all over the world. They were first sold at a fair in 1904, and since then, they have been a favorite meal for many people, especially kids.

Making a Burger

To make a burger, you cook the meat patty, put it on a bun, and add your favorite toppings. You can cook burgers on a grill or a pan.

Eating Burgers

Burgers are often eaten with hands and can be messy. They are a fun meal to eat outside at picnics or parties. Some restaurants are famous for making very good burgers.

Burgers and Health

While burgers can be delicious, eating too many can be unhealthy. It’s important to enjoy them in moderation and include vegetables and other healthy foods in your diet.

Also check:

• 10 Lines on Burger
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Burger

250 Words Essay on Burger

A burger is a popular food that many people enjoy. It is usually made up of a cooked patty that is often beef, placed inside a sliced bun. Besides beef, patties can be made from other meats like chicken, or even from plants for those who do not eat meat. The bun is like a type of bread that holds everything together.

Ingredients in a Burger

The patty in the middle is the main part of a burger, but there are other things added to make it tastier. These include lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, cheese, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. Some people like to add their own special ingredients to make their burgers unique.

Where to Find Burgers

Burgers are so loved that they can be found almost everywhere. Fast food restaurants sell them, and they are a common choice for a quick meal. You can also find burgers at sit-down restaurants where they are often made with special recipes. If you like cooking, you can make your own burger at home with ingredients from the store.

Why People Like Burgers

People like burgers because they are delicious and can be eaten with hands, making them easy to enjoy. They are also very filling, which means they can satisfy hunger well. With so many different toppings to choose from, everyone can have their burger just the way they like it.

In summary, a burger is a tasty, convenient food that comes in many varieties. Whether you buy it or make it yourself, a burger is a treat that people from all over the world love to eat.

500 Words Essay on Burger

A burger is a popular food that many people enjoy. It is made of a cooked patty, usually round in shape, which is often made from beef. This patty is placed between two pieces of bread called a bun. The basic burger can be made more exciting by adding different toppings like cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and sauces such as ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise.

The History of Burgers

The burger has an interesting history. It is believed to have come from Germany, from the city of Hamburg. When people from Germany moved to the United States, they brought the idea of the Hamburg steak with them. Over time, this evolved into the hamburger we know today. The first burgers were just meat and bread, but as time went on, cooks started to add other things to make it taste better.

Types of Burgers

There are many types of burgers. Some are made with different kinds of meat like chicken, turkey, or even fish. Others are made without meat at all and use ingredients like beans or vegetables; these are called veggie burgers. Each type of burger has its own special taste, and people can choose what they like best.

How to Make a Burger

Making a burger is simple. First, you shape the meat into a round patty. Then, you cook it on a grill or a pan until it’s done the way you like it. Next, you get the bun ready by cutting it in half. Some people like to toast the bun to make it a little crispy. After that, you put the cooked patty on the bottom half of the bun and add any toppings you want. Finally, you put the top half of the bun on, and your burger is ready to eat.

Burgers Around the World

Even though burgers started in one place, they are now eaten all over the world. In different countries, people have made their own special versions of burgers. For example, in India, you might find a burger with spices and chutney, while in Japan, you might find a burger with teriyaki sauce and a grilled pineapple slice.

Why People Love Burgers

People love burgers for many reasons. They taste good, they’re easy to eat with your hands, and you can make them just the way you like them. Whether you’re at a restaurant, a fast-food place, or at home, there’s a burger for everyone. Plus, burgers are great for parties or when you’re hanging out with friends because they’re fun and casual food.

It’s important to remember that while burgers can be delicious, they should be eaten in moderation. Some burgers, especially those from fast-food restaurants, can have a lot of calories and fat. It’s a good idea to include healthy toppings like lettuce and tomato and to choose lean meats or veggie patties when you can. Balance is key, and enjoying a burger once in a while as part of a balanced diet is perfectly okay.

In conclusion, the burger is a simple yet wonderful food that brings joy to many. From its origins to the many ways it can be made and enjoyed, the burger is a true favorite for people of all ages. Whether you like your burger plain or loaded with toppings, there’s no denying the special place it holds in the world of food.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Exercise And Health
• Essay on Evolution Of Transport
• Essay on Evolution Of Technology

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game New
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• English Grammar
• Writing Paragraphs

How to Write a Hamburger Paragraph

Last Updated: December 30, 2022 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 10 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 91,187 times. Learn more...

Writing a thorough but effective paragraph can be hard, especially if you're still learning some techniques for structuring your writing. The hamburger paragraph technique is easy to remember and easy to use; it offers a "recipe" for writing full and "meaty" paragraphs. Get started a step number one.

Community Q&A

• If you are having problems remembering how to write a hamburger paragraph, draw a picture of the hamburger and on each part either write "Topic Sentence", "Detail," or "Closing Sentence". Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.siue.edu/~tkohler/Writing%2520a%2520Paragraph.html
• ↑ https://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/paragraph_hamburger
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeCv0ifsURA

About This Article

• Send fan mail to authors

Did this article help you?

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Get all the best how-tos!

Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter

Health Information Technology: The hamburger technique of writing

• Evaluating sources
• Finding books
• HIM Body of Knowledge
• Finding Web sites
• Medical terminology
• Professional writing
• Avoiding plagiarism
• The hamburger technique of writing

The "hamburger technique" of writing

The "hamburger technique" of writing.

It is important that the majority of your writing in a research paper is YOURS. Even if you are citing your sources, the general rule is that 2/3 of the words in your research assignments should be your own. If your paper consists of nothing but quotes, you are not demonstrating that you understand the material nor are you providing your own analysis of that material. One writing method you can follow to help you do this is called the hamburger paragraph .

Hamburger paragraph:

• Some instructors will call this the sandwich paragraph method or even the Oreo method (which you may have heard before). Keep in mind that this method applies to body paragraphs, which are basically any paragraph in a paper other than the introduction and conclusion paragraphs. 

Building the burger:

• Top bun: The topic sentence, or argument. The first sentence of a paragraph should clearly state the paragraph’s main idea.
• Condiments: Your evidence (quotes & paraphrased information from your sources). When using quotes, remember that a little goes a long way!
• Cheese, pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, burger: Your analysis. The bulk of the paragraph! This is where you explain the significance of the evidence in your own words. This section is crucial to your paragraph. Don't get caught in a quote trap. Which is stringing quotes together without explaining their purpose. If you do not back up your quotes or paraphrased information, your writing will be weak and your reader (which at TCC is your teacher) will not be convinced that you understand the material you are writing about.  
• Bottom bun: Sentence relating the paragraph back to the thesis statement and transitioning to the next body paragraph.

Here's a diagram to illustrate the concept: 

(click on image to enlarge)

Example with a paragraph:

Here is another example of a simple "evidence sandwich" paragraph in the middle of a research paper that paraphrases information about using social media in the classroom. If you were to use a direct quote instead of paraphrasing, this is where you would want to place the quote. 

Variations on the hamburger method:

Remember...

• You can use variations on this formula.  For example, you could make this paragraph longer by including more analysis of the researchers’ findings.
• Or you could include a second piece of evidence (more filling!) to further back up your point.  If you add more filling, you might want to balance it by adding another slice of bread, too (that is, more of your own analysis).

Not every paragraph in your paper has to follow this formula, or even necessarily include outside evidence. But this is a classic formula that can serve you well throughout your college career. Just remember, you can't just plop a quote into a paragraph and move on - you must explain what the quote means or why the information is important in your own words - this is your analysis. Don't use quotes to fill space. Adding information into your paper should do just that, ADD to it - compliment it. Don't include useless information, but be picky and use quotes only when you intend to talk about what they mean and why they matter to your argument! 

One last note:

And again, making sure you correctly paraphrase, quote, summarize and CITE is key to avoiding plagiarism!

Diagram source: " Paragraph burger " by M. Persson, 2013, Educational use.

• << Previous: Avoiding plagiarism
• Next: Help! >>
• Last Updated: Mar 21, 2024 10:25 AM
• URL: https://tacomacc.libguides.com/HIT

Tacoma Community College Library - Building 7, 6501 South 19th Street, Tacoma, WA 98466 - P. 253.566.5087

Visit us on Instagram!

• Listening Tests
• Academic Tests
• General Tests
• IELTS Writing Checker
• IELTS Writing Samples
• Speaking Club
• IELTS AI Speaking Test Simulator
• Latest Topics
• Vocabularying
• 2024 © IELTS 69

Hamburgers and pizzas may be convenient, but they can also be unhealthy. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of fast food.

IELTS essay Hamburgers and pizzas may be convenient, but they can also be unhealthy. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of fast food.

• Structure your answers in logical paragraphs
• ? One main idea per paragraph
• Include an introduction and conclusion
• Support main points with an explanation and then an example
• Use cohesive linking words accurately and appropriately
• Vary your linking phrases using synonyms
• Try to vary your vocabulary using accurate synonyms
• Use less common question specific words that accurately convey meaning
• Check your work for spelling and word formation mistakes
• Use a variety of complex and simple sentences
• Check your writing for errors
• Answer all parts of the question
• ? Present relevant ideas
• Fully explain these ideas
• Support ideas with relevant, specific examples
• ? Currently is not available
• Meet the criteria
• Doesn't meet the criteria
• 5 band The given table compares the eight consumer items owned in bratian between 1972 to 1983. Overa The given table compares the eight consumer items owned in uk between 1972 to 1983 in percentage. Overall, the most popular electronic items in britain was television, whereas the less owned household appliances were dishwasher and video which had been introduced to the british families later in 197 ...
• 6 band In our modern society, the usage of computer are increasingly common for various purposes. According to scientists, computers will outperform humans in intelligence. While many people consider this as a beneficial development, others claim that this trend has a detrimental impact on human beings. Personally, I am in support of the former view as it will be examined in this essay. In our modern society, the usage of computer are increasingly common for various purposes. According to scientists, computers will outperform humans in intelligence. While many people consider this as a beneficial development, others claim that this trend has a detrimental impact on human beings. Pe ...
• Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club – the community of speakers of that language. Frank Smith
• 5.5 band I am in consummate accord with the statement that, the Earth’s natural green reserves purify its atmosphere and functions synonymously as that of the mammalian lungs. I also advocate the view that, forest destruction will ruin our present world. I am in consummate accord with the statement that, the Earth’s natural green reserves purify its atmosphere and functions synonymously as that of the mammalian lungs. I also advocate the view that, forest destruction will ruin our present world. Firstly, from our basic knowledge of plant physiology ...
• 6 band konumu yazmak istemiyorum çünkü bakmak istdiğim şey takrarlanan kelimler falan The number of ways in which companies use, advertising increasing every day. In my opinion, this is a negative development that directs people to the wrong side due to the possibility of transforming advertisements into cheat. Nowadays, businesses life is quite widespread in the world. By the reaso ...
• With languages, you are at home anywhere. Edward De Waal
• 6 band The bar chart illustrates the number of benefits from their clients to the public. In my It is generally believed that if the government wants to solve the traffic congestion problem, the most effective solution is to provide free public transportation, such as buses and trains. In my opinion, I agree with this idea because it really helps to ease the situation. Firstly, I believe that ...
• 6 band We are all being exposed to advertisements because of harsh competition between companies. Is this a positive or negative development? The rivalry among companies caused to enter our lives more adverts. It is widely believed that besides its positive effects that bring our lives, also, it causes some negative effects. I strongly support this idea that the development in advertisement industry put harm more than benefits. To begin ...
• One should not aim at being possible to understand but at being impossible to misunderstand. Marcus Fabius Quintilian

Writing an Essay is Like Making a Hamburger

• Share article

What does a hamburger have to do with persuasive writing? Plenty if you’re a student in the rural Jackson County, W.V., school system. The district last year launched a comprehensive literacy strategy to help its 4,700 students put their thoughts down on paper in an organized manner. The strategy--a popular approach across the country that employs the hamburger image as a graphic organizer-- is used in grades K-12 and throughout the curriculum. The top bun is the thesis, the bottom bun the conclusion, and the meat of the essay is sandwiched in between. Rhonda Jelich, the district’s director of elementary education and staff development, told Education Week that the literacy lessons are age-appropriate, but the concept is to give all students a writing structure - a visual way to construct an essay. Fourth grader Briana Sotomayor put this strategy to good use by penning a winning essay for the district’s drug-and-alcohol-prevention competition. We asked her to explain how she writes using the hamburger model.

Sign Up for EdWeek Update