Ever munched through a bag of cheese puffs or bowl of corn flakes and wondered, 'how was this even invented'? Though you'd never expect it, some dishes and drinks have rather unusual origin stories, involving everything from happy accidents to failed attempts at revenge. Looking for some food for thought? Read on to discover how 31 seemingly straightforward everyday food staples came to be.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the surprising reasons why your favourite foods were invented – counting down to the most bizarre backstory of all.
We've based our ranking on the most surprising nature of each origin story, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.
A British pub menu mainstay, the ploughman’s lunch features everything from hard cheeses and chutneys to fresh bread and cold meats. While it’s commonly associated with farmers, the modern version we enjoy today was likely created during the 1950s and popularised in the 1960s – all thanks to an advertising campaign launched by the UK's Milk Marketing Board in a bid to boost cheese sales.
These bite-sized doughnut snacks come in a variety of flavours, from glazed chocolate to blueberry, and they first landed on Dunkin' Donuts menus in the early 1970s. Though they're undoubtedly delicious, they were actually invented as a clever way to use up the excess dough cut from doughnut holes. Thankfully, the treats proved instantly popular, and they continue to be a customer favourite over five decades later.
Now an American store-cupboard staple, this family-friendly product was invented in 1965 when Donald Goerke, who worked for Campbell's Franco-American brand, was challenged to create a pasta dish for children that could be eaten with a spoon. It took a lot of experimentation before Goerke eventually settled on the 'O' shape. Pictured is an early advertisement suggesting that SpaghettiOs are 'practically unspillable'.
A popular cafeteria lunch and TV dinner throughout the 1970s, Salisbury steak consists of minced beef shaped into oblong patties, served up with a generous helping of thick gravy. Although it might not sound particularly healthy by today's standards, it was invented by American physician Dr Salisbury in the late 19th century as a health food intended to improve digestion.
There are few Indian restaurants in the UK that don't have this 1970s favourite on the menu. While its origins are sometimes contested, most people agree that Ali Ahmed Aslam was the dish's creator. The story goes that the Pakistani Scottish chef, of Glasgow’s Shish Mahal restaurant, invented the curry after a customer complained that the meat in his chicken tikka was too dry. Annoyed by this, he added a can of tomato soup, some yogurt and some extra spices. Much to his surprise, the customer loved it, and it quickly became a British classic.
Found in products such as Diet Coke, this artificial sweetener was invented in 1965 by scientist Dr James Schlatter, who was trying to make an anti-ulcer drug. While experimenting, he licked his finger to pick up a piece of paper and discovered it tasted sweet – and the sugar replacement was born. It's likely one of the only times that accidentally ingesting a chemical in science has led to a positive outcome.
Known to divide a crowd, this controversial McDonald's menu item arrived in 1965 as part of a strategy to elevate sales on Fridays, when Roman Catholics traditionally abstain from eating meat. Christened the Filet-O-Fish, the tasty sandwich, complete with breadcrumbed fish, tartare sauce and a slice of American cheese, was invented in 1963 by Lou Groen, a McDonald's franchise owner from Cincinnati. It was rolled out nationally two years later, and it's still on the menu today. Not only that, but its sales tend to skyrocket in March because of Lent, another period of Catholic abstinence.
This creamy Italian delicacy may ooze over pizza and serve as the base for a fresh Caprese salad these days, but spare a thought for its surprising origin story. It’s believed that mozzarella was created by accident after curdled milk fell into a pan of boiling water at a cheese factory in Naples. We’re certainly thankful for its invention; nowadays, a whole range of different types of mozzarella are made, using the likes of water buffalo milk and cows’ milk.
This crispy Tex-Mex delight was never supposed to exist; in fact, it’s believed that the chimichanga was created by accident after Monica Flin, owner of El Charro Café in Tuscon, Arizona, dropped a burrito into a pot of hot oil. As the oil splashed up, she went to swear – but as young children were around, she cried out ‘chimichanga!’ instead.
These fluffy golden cakes with a creamy filling were invented to make use of Continental Baking Company's strawberry shortcake pans in the months after the strawberry season ended. They were created in 1930, during the height of the Great Depression, when no machinery could afford to sit unused. Inspired by an advertisement for Twinkle Toe Shoes, the treat was initially filled with banana crème; it earned the vanilla centre we all know and love due to rationing during the Second World War.
It’s hard to imagine a time before this gooey treat existed. Its origin stories are hotly debated, but Betty Crocker’s Baking Classics has it that a housewife from Bangor, Maine tried baking a cake that collapsed; instead of throwing it out, she sliced it into bars for her guests to enjoy. Who'd have thought that something so delicious could ever have been seen as a mistake?
The humble raisin hasn't always been a road trip essential. When raisins were first discovered dried on vines in 2000 BC in Mediterranean Europe, they were not only eaten, but they were also used for decoration in homes and shrines. Later, the dried fruit became popular as a prize at sporting events – and it was even thought to have medicinal properties.
While many have enjoyed this American 7-Eleven staple over the years, few know about its cool history. The frozen drink – famed for its icy taste and bright colours – dates back to the 1950s, when Kansas shop owner Omar Knedlik's soda fountain broke down mid-shift. To keep his drinks cool, he stored them in a freezer and served them half frozen instead. Customers adored them, coming back time and again to request 'those pops that were in a little bit longer'. Knedlik created a machine to produce the drinks, and in 1965, 7-Eleven licensed it.
There are two theories as to how this tasty brunch dish came to be. Some say that chef Charles Ranhofer, of Manhattan’s Delmonico’s Restaurant, invented it in the 1860s when his regular customer Mrs. LeGrand Benedict requested a new and exciting dish. Others say that it was born when a hungry (and hungover) Wall Street broker waltzed into NYC’s Waldorf Hotel in 1894 – ordering buttered toast, poached eggs, crisp bacon and hollandaise. Apparently, the hotel's maître d' was so impressed that he made the dish a permanent fixture on the menu. Whichever story is true, we're grateful!
It’s believed that Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts, an old-school brand of British sweets, was invented by clumsy mistake. Company representative Charlie Thompson supposedly tripped, sending a neat row of sweets tumbling onto the floor – and creating a vibrant mishmash of colours and shapes in the process. Fortunately, the wholesaler was delighted and began ordering a mixed delivery every time. It wasn't long before the assorted treats became available on sweet shop shelves up and down the country.
Gin and tonic may be a fashionable drink these days, but that hasn't always been the case; in fact, the beverage is believed to date back to the 16th century, when it was used for medicinal purposes. Over the years, gin and tonic has been used to fight multiple diseases, including malaria; the quinine (a medicinal extract) in the tonic stopped fever chills, while the gin (made from juniper berries) made the tonic more palatable. As a bonus, the lime wedge warded off scurvy.
There are a few theories out there, but it's widely believed that these ring-shaped rolls originated in Poland in the 13th century. During this time, many laws were put in place to segregate Jews from Christians; however, Jewish bakers were permitted to bake bread both for themselves and their Christian neighbours. Their bagels were particularly popular among Christians during Lent, a time when rich foods are traditionally avoided.
Sticky and spicy, Buffalo wings are among America's favourite comfort foods; each year, the country gets through billions of them during the Super Bowl weekend alone. However, the dish was initially invented to save a large batch of unwanted chicken wings from going to waste. The deep-fried snack, served with celery and blue cheese dip, was first prepared by Teressa Bellissimo at The Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, in 1964.
Blue cheese is thought to have been created by happy accident; it’s believed that the delicacy was created after a shepherd left some half-eaten bread and cheese in a cave. A few months later, he returned – discovering that mould had developed on the bread and transferred onto the cheese, giving it a blue colour. Much to his surprise, he found the cheese to be rather pleasant. We're sure cheese lovers will be glad to know that this isn’t how blue cheese is made today.
These days, this lemon and lime–flavoured fizzy drink is a popular alternative to Coca-Cola. But when 7 Up was invented in 1929, it contained the chemical lithium – which is used to treat depression, bipolar disorder and mania – making it a mood enhancer as well as a refreshing drink. Thankfully, it no longer contains the unusual ingredient, and fans of the drink can enjoy it worry-free.
From maki rolls to stuffed inari, sushi is something you want to eat fresh. While you might associate the dish with Japan, it's believed that sushi was originally created in ancient China as a way of preserving fish by storing it in fermented rice; in fact, only the fish was consumed, while the rice was discarded. Eventually, fermented rice was replaced with the vinegared rice that's still used today.
Another food invention that came from a need to get rid of excess poultry – 520,000lbs of turkey, to be precise – is the TV dinner. After misjudging exactly how much turkey it needed for Thanksgiving 1953, American frozen food brand Swanson Foods asked its staff to think of an innovative way to avoid wasting it. A ready meal designed to be eaten in front of the TV was just the ticket, and the three-part container even came slotted inside a box that looked like a television set.
Drizzled over cheese on toast or used to marinate meat, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce is a staple in kitchen cupboards across the globe – but do you know how it was invented? In 1837, chemists John Wheeley Lea and William Perrins were tasked with recreating a recipe that nobleman Lordy Sandys had experienced in Bengal, India. At first, the product wasn’t to its makers’ tastes – but after it was forgotten about in a cellar for a year and a half, they found it had mellowed into a delicious sauce. The rest is history!
The tale of how this salty snack was invented is one of revenge. While dining at the Moon’s Lake House in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1853, Cornelius Vanderbilt sent his French fries back to the kitchen for being cut too thickly. In outrage, chef George Crum prepared them again – this time, as thin and hard as possible. Vanderbilt loved them, and the potato crisp was born. Although this origin story is sometimes contested, the restaurant is undoubtedly the place where the crunchy delight gained popularity.
From s'mores to cheesecake bases, this unassuming cracker is used in recipes across the USA. But do you know what its original intended use was? Sylvester Graham, a puritanical 19th-century minister, believed that lustful feelings were to be suppressed – and that rich and delicious foods helped to stimulate these emotions. He therefore advised Americans to follow a strict vegetarian diet, featuring this plain grain-based biscuit, in order to conquer their desires.
This seriously spicy chicken is a treat for those who like hot food and a punishment for everyone else – and that's precisely the reason it was invented. In 1930s Nashville, Thornton Prince was caught cheating on his girlfriend. In an attempt to get revenge, she served him a breakfast of fried chicken doused in extremely hot pepper. Much to her dismay, the plan backfired, and Prince actually enjoyed the meal. He even went as far as opening a restaurant (now known as Prince's Hot Chicken Shack) to sell the fiery dish.
This fried pork snack is enjoyed across Spain and Latin America – and while its origins are debated, there's one almost unbelievable story we simply had to share. Legend has it that back in the 18th century, a Spanish farmer found that one of his hogs had rubbed its skin off while scratching its back on a tree. After baking in the sun, the skin gave off a smoky bacon scent, and, to the farmer’s delight, it tasted delicious too.
Like Graham crackers, the invention of Kellogg's Corn Flakes was influenced by religion. A Seventh-day Adventist, the brand's founder John Harvey Kellogg intentionally made the cereal healthy and bland, as he believed that a plain diet was the key to leading a pure life. Corn Flakes were invented in 1894, and these days they're popular across the world – so he must have been doing something right.
In need of a quick migraine buster? When this fizzy drink was first created in 1886, it was advertised as an antidote for headaches and exhaustion. The brainchild of pharmacist John Pemberton, its ingredients included caffeine and, rather surprisingly, cocaine – though thankfully, the latter has since been removed. Pictured is a Coca-Cola advert from the late 1800s touting the drink as 'the ideal brain tonic'.
The first ever batch of cheese puffs is thought to have been invented in an animal feed factory in the 1930s. Workers at The Flakall Company of Beloit, Wisconsin had noticed that puffed corn was being produced during a machinery cleaning process. One employee, Edward Wilson, decided to investigate, taking home a handful of puffs and seasoning them – and he realised they tasted pretty good. The company moved into snack making, and a popular treat was born.
The sandwich, as it's known in the West, was supposedly invented as a way to eat meat without a knife, fork and plate. An 18th-century English nobleman, John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, is often credited with making the dish famous; while playing a gambling game with friends, he asked for meat to be brought over between two pieces of bread. The meal caught on, with people saying, "I’ll have the same as Sandwich".
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Last updated by Lottie Woodrow.