American citizens have come to enjoy the Fourth of July as a national holiday. So what’s there not to like? There’s nothing better than spending time with loved ones, sharing a barbecue, and drinking some beer, to name a few things. It’s hard to believe that some of these Independence Day food traditions aren’t truly American, but that’s exactly the point.
We’ve compiled a list of 11 popular Fourth of July food customs and the stories behind them. Despite the fact that barbecue is popularly linked with the United States, many believe that it began in the Caribbean and then spread to the southern states of the United States through time.
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Top 10 Ideas For Traditional 4th Of July Foods
1. Barbecues
The all-American barbeque, which draws many American families and friends together around a grill, is arguably the most famous 4th of July eating tradition. In fact, almost 74 million Americans are planning to grill this holiday.
Despite the fact that barbecue is popularly associated with America, many people believe it began in the Caribbean and then spread to the American South.
2. Hot dogs
A BBQ isn’t complete without the iconic hot dog. July has been designated as National Hot Dog Month by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (yep, it’s a real council). However, the 4th of July is the day when Americans consume the hottest dogs. On July 4th, it’s projected that 150 million hot dogs would be consumed.
Sausages have been around for quite some time. Sausage is mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey as well. However, the German frankfurter, which has likely evolved substantially into the hot dog we know and love today, is the cuisine that is most comparable to our beloved hot dog.
3. Red, White, And Blue Everything
The use of red, white, and blue is one of the most iconic 4th of July food traditions. Because of our flag, the dominance of these three colors appears natural. But, in the first place, why are these the three colors on the flag? On June 14, 1777 (Flag Day, for those of you who don’t know), the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress voted a resolution that resulted in the creation of our cherished American flag.
However, the significance of red, white, and blue dates back to the previous year. The official seal of the United States was made on July 4th, 1776. Secretary Charles Thomson explained the importance of the seal to the Continental Congress: white denotes purity, red denotes courage, and blue denotes endurance. So, go ahead and create one of these red, white, and blue jello shots to honor our country’s colors.
4. Solo Cups
It’s fascinating to consider how a basic red plastic cup could become an icon of American pop culture. The notorious red Solo® cup is merely one of the many Tupperware products produced by the Solo® Company. In the 1970s, the red cup was introduced to the American household as a “time-saving device” for people who were holding huge parties.
Because the cup is disposable and holds 18 ounces, it appears to be ideal for accommodating party guests. The meaning of the distinctive red color, on the other hand, is unknown. Some speculate that the red color was chosen as a marketing tactic. Red is a gender-neutral hue that consumers find appealing. Red is commonly used in branding to convey a sense of excitement and youth.
5. Budweiser
Budweiser devotes the majority of its effort and resources to promoting itself as the “All-American” beer. Indeed, Budweiser has indicated an interest in renaming their beloved drink “America.” So it’s no surprise that a cool Budweiser is a must-have for the Fourth of July. This All-American beer, on the other hand, was created by a group of German immigrants in St. Louis. When Adolphus Busch married Eberhard Anheuser’s daughter is 1861, the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association (the corporation that produces Budweiser) was born.
Beer was only distributed to the community in which it was brewed in the 1800s, around the time of Budweiser’s establishment. Beer could be bottled for up to four months thanks to the development of pasteurization, and it could be carried statewide in refrigerated rail wagons. Indeed, Budweiser began pasteurizing beer before dairy farms began pasteurizing milk.
6. Corn On The Cob
Corn on the cob is a BBQ classic, which is why it’s so popular on July 4th. Corn has been present for thousands of years, despite being the most prevalent and cultivated grain in the United States.
Corn has long been regarded as the New World’s oldest crop, having been originally farmed 9,000 years ago in southern Mexico. Corn was soon discovered to be versatile by Native Americans, and it began to be planted and collected across the United States. In truth, Native Americans were eating corn off the cob long before Europeans arrived in the United States.
7. S’mores
S’mores are unquestionably a 4th of July (and, possibly, summer) staple. Despite the fact that the original origin of the s’more is unknown, it is nevertheless a popular gastronomic ritual.
Some believe the s’more came from a recipe called “some mores” in the Girl Scout guide “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts” from 1927, which also included instructions on how to build campfires. Others say that s’mores originated in the Victorian era when cream-filled sandwich cookies were the preferred treat.
Enjoy spending time with family and friends around the fire, regardless of its origin, and don’t be afraid to jazz up your s’mores this 4th of July with extra fix-ins like peanut butter.
8. Lemonade
Lemonade has been around for a lot longer than you might think. Lemons are thought to have been transported to Egypt from Asia circa 700 AD, according to many historians. Qatarmizat, a lemon-based drink sweetened with sugar, became popular about the same time.
Though Qatarmizat is not exactly the same as the lemonade we enjoy today, it has evolved over thousands of years. The Compagnie de Limonadiers, which was founded in 1676 in Paris, is thought to be the earliest soda firm. The corporation set up a lemonade stand on the streets of Paris, which was the world’s first lemonade stand.
9. Strawberry Shortcake
It’s not uncommon to be served strawberry shortcake for dessert at a Fourth of July BBQ. Shortcake made with strawberries has been around for about 200 years. The first known recipe was published in 1847 in “Miss Leslie’s Ladies Recipe Book.” Miss Leslie’s dish is called “Strawberry Cake,” but it’s more like the strawberry shortcake we eat today.
Strawberry shortcake, like other foods, has developed over time. The first strawberry shortcakes were created with a pastry similar to pie crust that was baked, then split apart and filled with mashed strawberries (much like a sandwich) before being frosted with sugar. Miss Leslie’s strawberry shortcake was similar to biscuits with strawberries and frosting at the time.
Strawberry shortcake celebrations became popular in the late 1800s. Many historians believe that this is why the strawberry shortcake recipe began to change throughout time to meet different people’s preferences. The prior biscuit texture was replaced with an angel food cake-like texture, and the icing was replaced with a light whipping cream.
10. Ice Cream
Ice cream has been around for a long time – Alexander the Great even cites “snow and ice sweetened with honey and nectar.” Ice cream was a luxury only the wealthiest of the privileged could afford. Ice cream production became a booming industry after the discovery of refrigeration. Ice cream became popular after the establishment of the ice cream parlor, which became a popular social gathering place for many Americans in the late 1800s.
During World War II, ice cream became an edible emblem of morale, with each military branch attempting to outdo the other by distributing ice cream to its troops. For servicemen in the western Pacific, the first floating ice cream parlor was created in 1945. During World War II, ice cream became such an American emblem that Mussolini outlawed it in Italy. When the war ended, Americans ate ice cream to commemorate their victory. In 1946, each American consumed nearly 20 quarts of ice cream.
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