According to Burger Business, an average of 75% of Americans have a burger every week; almost 25% had one in the past 24 hours. Relevant to pub, tavern and restaurant operators, roughly two-thirds of the burgers we eat are consumed away from home. This clearly indicates that Americans love burgers and chances are that lots of Americans will be enjoying cheeseburgers with American, cheddar, Swiss or some other cheese today, September 18, thanks to it being National Cheeseburger Day.
There are many theories to the beginning of the cheeseburger. Some of these date back to the ‘20s and nobody can agree seem to agree to the origins. Nonetheless, cheeseburgers are a staple at bars and restaurants all across the country and they definitely aren’t going away. Here are some fun facts for you to share with your customers on National Cheeseburger Day.
- The biggest cheeseburger ever made weighed in at 2,014 pounds, was 10 feet in diameter and required the use of a crane to flip. It was cooked at Black Bear Casino Resort in Carlton, Minnesota in 2012.
- Americans eat nearly 50 billion burgers a year. Now that’s a lot of beef!
- Hamburgers and cheeseburgers are said to comprise about 71% of all beef served in commercial restaurants. They also make up 60% of all sandwiches sold.
- White Castle is the oldest burger chain in America. It was started in 1921 by Walter A. Anderson and E.W. Ingram who sold their burgers for 5 cents apiece.
- Priced at $295, Le Burger Extravagant at Serendipity 3 in NYC has one of the most expensive burgers in the country.
- Competitive eater Sonya Thomas, known as “The Black Widow” and “The Leader of the Four Horsemen of the Esophagus,” went toe-to-toe with a 9-pound cheeseburger and finished it in less than a half hour. Unreal.