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Foods Invented by Accident

When it comes to culinary masterpieces, not all great dishes are the result of long hours in the kitchen. In fact, many of our favourite foods were invented by accident.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by your next dinner party and don't know where to start, don't worry – I've got you covered. I'm going to share with you some of the most famous foods that were created by accident. From cheese to microwave popcorn, these dishes or snacks are sure to impress your guests (and they'll never know that you didn't spend hours slaving over a hot stove).

Sit back, relax, and get ready to learn about some of the strangest –but most delicious– food inventions in history.


Cheese

I'm a big fan of cheese. In fact, If you didn't like its aesthetics, you're gonna like it today! Nevertheless, I never knew that cheese was actually invented by accident.

It turns out that the ancient Egyptians were the first to accidentally stumble upon the cheese-making process. One day back then, when they were making a type of yoghurt called mastika, one of the workers left a pot of milk out in the sun for too long and when he went to stir it up later, he found that it had turned into a thick, creamy curd.

Cheese quickly became a popular food item in Ancient Egypt, and it's been a staple in our diets ever since. The next time you're enjoying a piece of cheese pizza or a big bowl of mac and cheese, remember that you have the ancient Egyptians to thank for it!


Cheese curls A.K.A cheese balls 

In the middle of my research for more foods that were invented by accident, I stumbled on one that made me almost choke on my chips. While quite a number of us might not be familiar with cheese curls, I bet we've most likely come across cheese balls.

Cheese curls are one of those classic comfort snacks that everyone seems to love especially the little ones. But who would have thought that this hearty snack was actually created by accident? 

This crunchy, cheesy snack was created in the 1930s when a storeowner was mixing up a batch of cheese sauce and accidentally left the pan on the stove for too long. The sauce turned into crispy curls, and now we have this wonderful addition thanks to a fortunate carelessness 🤗.


Potato Chips

Do you love munching on crispy, savoury potato chips? If so, then you have something in common with the rich dude that kept annoying the chef who would become the inventor of potato chips, George Crum.

It all started one day during one of George's shifts as a chef in a hotel. His customer, a wealthy businessman, kept sending back his potatoes because they were too thick and soft. In a fit of frustration, George sliced them razor thin and tossed them into a hot vat of oil. The end result? Crispy, addictive potato chips!

And the rest, as they say, is... Pringles (no, not really) 🤭. Potato chips have become one of the most popular snacks in the world, and are enjoyed by people of all ages and cultures. So when you get to heaven(🌝) remember to say thank you to George Crum— the accidental inventor of the century!


Ketchup

It's hard to believe that something as delicious as ketchup was invented by accident, but that's exactly what happened. 

Ketchup has a long and storied history, dating back to ancient China. The original ketchup was made from a fermented fish sauce and was used as a condiment and dipping sauce. The sauce was later brought to Europe by traders and eventually made its way to America. The first American ketchup recipe was published in 1812 and called for a mixture of mashed tomatoes, vinegar, spices, and anchovies.

Ketchup continued to evolve over the years, with new recipes and ingredients being added. Today, ketchup is made from a variety of different ingredients, including tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, and spices. It is a popular condiment for a variety of foods and is a staple in many households.

Ketchup is one of those Condiments that can make just about any food taste better. Whether you're dipping your fries in it, using it as a BBQ sauce, or just eating it straight out of the bottle, ketchup is always a good idea. So next time you reach for the ketchup, take a moment to appreciate this amazing invention.


Waffle cone

I was reading about the invention of the waffle cone and I have to say, I'm a little disappointed in myself. Here I am, trying to come up with new and innovative ways to make waffles, and all this time, all I had to do was put some ice cream in a cone-shaped waffle 🤯.

It turns out that the waffle cone was invented by accident— _gasp!_ who woulda thought? A man named Abe Douma was trying to make a new type of waffle that would be more durable and could hold more toppings. But instead of a sturdy waffle, he ended up with a soft and fluffy cone shape.

The next time you're making waffles, try moulding them into cones instead of disks and you might just surprise yourself. Who knows? You could end up creating the next food trend.


Croissants

Croissants are a delicious French pastry that was originally invented by Monsieur Accidênt, oui, oui😉. The story goes that a baker in Paris was trying to come up with a new way to use leftovers from a previous day's baking, and came up with the idea to combine flour, butter, and sugar into a new pastry. The result, you know it, was the croissant!

Now, there maybe different accounts to the story, but I'll stick to the cool one; cos why not🌝.

These pastry doughs are typically rolled out into a thin sheet, folded into a crescent shape and baked until golden brown. They're usually filled with cream or jam, and serve as a delicious snack or breakfast treat.

If you've never tried one before, I highly recommend giving croissants a try! They might not be the most traditional French food, but they're definitely one of the tastiest.


Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oh, cookies. Is there anything more delicious? (Well, maybe bacon or waffles…)

The chocolate chip cookie is definitely one of my all-time favourite treats. And believe it or not, this sweet snack was also invented by accident.

It all started in 1933 when Ruth Wakefield was baking a batch of cookies and ran out of baker's chocolate. She decided to substitute it with some chopped-up bits of Nestle's semisweet chocolate instead, and what a good idea that was because we're still singing our love for that accidental magic cookie.

These days, chocolate chip cookies are a staple in most households. They're perfect for satisfying that sweet tooth after dinner, or as a midnight snack.


Microwave Popcorn

Microwave popcorn was created back in the '50s when a physicist(Dr. Percy Spencer) working for the Raytheon Corporation was trying to develop a way to heat up corn in a packet using microwaves. Instead, he ended up creating the first-ever microwaveable popcorn packet.

Microwave popcorn quickly became a popular snack item, and to this day it remains one of the most popular convenience snacks around.

Even though some of these foods were invented by accident, they've gone on to become fan favourites all over the world. Of course, not every invention is going to be a winning one, and some of them are more comical than anything else- I mean, we're probably not missing much in life by failing to have tasted a cockroach cookie, for example. But other accidental treats, like the banana split or brownies? Those we can enjoy on occasion.

So the next time you take a bite of your favourite "mistake," think back to the chefs, inventors, physicists who made it, and all the moments of trial and error that brought it to you. In other words, happy accidents lead to great food!

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Fun facts:

Before 1913 parents could mail their kids to Grandma's - through the postal service.

Snails take the longest naps, some lasting as long as three years.

Hippopotamus milk is pink.


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4 Comments

  1. Wooooowwwwww, I really had no idea about all these. This was really an informative and fun read. I love the life you bring to your work Glorychy.

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    1. Thank you, always great having you around. Stay tuned for the next read.

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  2. Very niceeee. I had no idea any of these foods were created by accident. Keep giving us more madt content abeg. I'll forever love your writing skills❤️

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, my next post is sure gonna be mind blowing 😉.

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