Food Corner
  • Home
  • About
  • Awards
  • Resources
  • Advertise / Sponsor
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Blogging Tips
  • Food & Travel
  • Health & Fitness
  • Reviews

Food Corner

  • Home
  • About
  • Awards
  • Resources
  • Advertise / Sponsor
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
LifestyleTips

Match Made in Heaven: The History of the Burger and Shake Combo

written by Amila Gamage Wickramarachchi November 4, 2015
Breakfast Food Items from Restaurants

The burger and shake combo has become—well, as American as apple pie. We associate this classic pairing with a kind of wide-eyed, American Graffiti-styled nostalgia, but in truth it’s more than a signifier of vintage Americana, or of glory days gone by. Just head to the nearest Five Guys or Shake Shack on your next lunch break and take a peek at the long line. Clearly, the burger and shake combo never left us; it’s as essential to modern American life as it has ever been.You can get your hands on a great burger and shake for a fraction of the price with this Dairy Queen discount code.

But how did this combination start—and how is it that burgers and their various accouterments came to define the American fast food landscape?

The American Burger: A Crash Course

Though it seems like the great American burger has been with us forever, in fact it’s an invention of the past century or so—initially an immigrant food. First known as the Hamburg steak, the hamburger was brought to this country by German immigrants, and spread across this nation primarily through state fairs.

That’s not to say there weren’t some bumps along the way; before the burger could really catch on, it had to overcome the widespread perception that it was a food for factory workers, very much low-class and made from questionable ingredients. Various burger joints, through a combination of better ingredients and savvy PR, worked to shake the stigma and turn the burger into something with true mass appeal.

One burger joint, in particular, helped this food overcome its image problem. White Castle, founded in the 1920s, is today known for its popularity among potheads more than its culinary brilliance, but that wasn’t always the case. A long time ago, White Castle set the standard for safety and consistency in a fast food setting. White Castle’s chefs took the state fair “Hamburg steak” and started making it with premium beef; by combining this with a clean cut, family friendly image, White Castle was able to make the burger into something more than just a “working class” staple.

But What About the Shakes?

History of the Burger and Shake Combo

The rest of the history you probably know: McDonald’s and other fast food chains ensured that the burger became a kind of quick-and-easy comfort food—something that would be the same every time you ordered it, whether in a McDonald’s in South Carolina or in Idaho.

The shake came into the picture as an outgrowth of this mindset—the ultimate pairing of savory and sweet comfort foods that could be easily replicated by cooking crews everywhere. And while other combinations have emerged as popular—burgers and beer, for instance—the burger and shake combination still defines the American fast food experience more than anything else.

1 comment
0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Amila Gamage Wickramarachchi

Amila Gamage is the blogger behind Food Corner. She is a Sri Lankan living in Singapore and shares her cooking adventures in this blog. Apart from recipes, you will also find travel, health and kitchen inspirations in this blog. She is the founder of Sihela Consultants. (www.sihelaconsultants.com) She started writing this blog in 2011 and still continuing.

previous post
Sri Lankan Dhal Curry with Green Chilli-Parippu Curry
next post
Teavivre Nonpareil Yunnan Dian Hong Chinese Red Black Tea

Related Posts

Corn or Flour? The Great Tortilla Debate

March 31, 2018

Save Money from Grocery Shopping: Here are the...

October 13, 2022

Announcing the winners of ‘Food of the Month...

October 31, 2011

Amazing Food Facts You Most Likely Do Not...

June 6, 2016

Holiday Products from Mabel’s Labels

October 19, 2013

Sweet Gift Making Inspiration From Paul Lowe

October 30, 2014

Blurb Gift Ideas for this Holidays

November 28, 2013

How to Throw the Best Summer BBQ

May 19, 2018

‘Food of the Week’ – contest for August...

August 5, 2011

Best Cheap Coffee Maker for Your Normal Kitchen

January 13, 2016

1 comment

Sowmiasgalley November 4, 2015 - 2:00 pm

Wonderful share Amila…

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Recipe Rating




Welcome to Food Corner!

Hi! I am Amila. Enjoy Sri Lankan recipes throughout the site including other recipes and articles.Don't forget to leave me a comment before you leave :)

Subscribe for updates and grab this ebook FREE!

Recent Posts

  • Exploring the Cuisine of Ladakh: A Culinary Journey Through the High Passes
  • Flavors of Rajasthan Exploring the Rich Cuisine of India’s Royal Land
  • Mexican Rice: A Delicious Meal with Aztec Roots
  • This Orzo Recipe Will Help You Start With a Good Step The Mediterranean Diet
  • Check This Delicious Zucchini and Mushrooms Rice Recipe You Can Easily Make At Home

Categories

  • Air Fryer recipes
  • Appetizers and Snacks
  • Blogging Tips
  • Bread,Bun,Pizza and Baking recipes
  • Cakes and Cookies
  • Chicken Recipes
  • Desserts and Frozen
  • Drinks and Beverages
  • Egg Recipes
  • Fish Recipes
  • Food & Travel
  • Food Business
  • For Kids
  • Grilling
  • Health & Fitness
  • Indian Recipes
  • Kitchen Appliances
  • Kitchen Garden
  • Lifestyle
  • Microwave Recipes
  • Noodles and Pasta Recipes
  • Pantry Organizing
  • Pickle Recipes
  • Recipe Collections
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • Reviews
  • Rice Recipes
  • Salad Recipes
  • Sambola & Chutney Recipes
  • Seafood Recipes
  • Simple food garnishing
  • Slow Cooker Recipes
  • Soup Recipes
  • sri lanka
  • Sri Lankan
  • Sri Lankan Breakfast/Dinner
  • Sweets
  • Tips
  • Vegetables and Pulses

Archives

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google +
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

@2011-2021 - Food Corner. All Right Reserved. Designed by K. Motif