You Won’t Believe How These 10 Foods Were Invented
Some of the world’s most iconic foods weren’t created in test kitchens or carefully planned at all, they happened completely by accident. From a frozen drink born out of a broken soda machine to a simple mistake that led to the first batch of chocolate chip cookies, these foods prove that a little luck (and sometimes a kitchen mishap) can go a long way. Here are 10 popular foods that started as accidents but became timeless favorites around the globe.
Potato Chips
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Legend has it that chef George Crum invented potato chips in 1853 after a customer complained about fries being too thick. He sliced potatoes paper-thin, fried them until crisp, and accidentally created a snack that took off.
Popsicles
In 1905, an 11-year-old named Frank Epperson left a cup of soda powder, water, and a stirring stick outside on a cold night. By morning, the frozen treat on a stick was born.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
In the 1930s, Ruth Wakefield of the Toll House Inn tried adding chopped chocolate into cookie dough, expecting it to melt evenly. Instead, she created the first batch of chocolate chip cookies.
Ice Cream Cones
At the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, a vendor ran out of bowls and teamed up with a nearby waffle stand. The rolled-up waffles became the first ice cream cones.
Corn Flakes
John Harvey Kellogg and his brother accidentally left cooked wheat out overnight. When they rolled it, it flaked — leading to the invention of corn flakes.
Cheese Puffs
Workers at a corn-snack factory accidentally ran moistened corn through a machine meant for animal feed. The result? Puffy, crunchy curls we now know as cheese puffs.
Worcestershire Sauce
Chemists John Lea and William Perrins tried to make a sauce but considered their first batch a failure. After forgetting about it in a cellar, the aged mix developed bold flavor — and became the classic we know today.
Slurpees
7-Eleven’s iconic frozen drink came from a broken soda fountain in the 1950s. A shop owner stored sodas in the freezer, and customers loved the icy texture.
Nachos
In 1943, Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya threw together tortilla chips, cheese, and jalapeños for hungry customers at a Mexican restaurant. His improvised dish became a global favorite.
Coca-Cola
Pharmacist John Pemberton originally created Coca-Cola as a medicinal syrup. When it was accidentally mixed with carbonated water, the world’s most famous soft drink was born.
