DiscoverOur American StoriesHow the Hamburger Became an American Staple
How the Hamburger Became an American Staple

How the Hamburger Became an American Staple

Update: 2025-12-23
Share

Description

On this episode of Our American Stories, before it became a greasy icon or a late-night craving, the hamburger was an immigrant invention trying to make itself useful. German farmers working the fairgrounds needed something fast and portable, so someone tucked spiced beef between slices of bread, and the hamburger was born. It wasn’t fancy, but it worked. Then came Upton Sinclair, whose book The Jungle made the public retch and nearly killed the hamburger altogether. Only after White Castle stepped in to clean up its image did Americans start trusting it again. George Motz, the documentarian behind Burger America, walks us through how one modest sandwich clawed its way into our national identity.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comments 
loading
In Channel
00:00
00:00
1.0x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

How the Hamburger Became an American Staple

How the Hamburger Became an American Staple

iHeartPodcasts