Some of the world’s well-loved foods weren’t the result of careful planning. They were total accidents. From “oops” moments, we got iconic eats. Here’s a tasty lineup of 11 happy accidents that reshaped the way we eat.
11. Toasted Ravioli
A St. Louis chef had a happy accident in the 1940s, and it gave the world the gift of toasted ravioli. The story goes that the chef had a bit too much wine and he accidentally dropped a batch of ravioli into a deep fryer instead of boiling water. The result? A crispy, golden-brown appetizer that became a legend.
10. Microwave Popcorn
In 1945, a self-taught engineer named Percy Spencer was working with a magnetron, a device that generates microwaves for radar systems. During one experiment, he noticed a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted. Later, he placed some popcorn kernels near the magnetron and saw them popped. This discovery led to the development of microwave ovens and, eventually, the bags of popcorn we enjoy today.
9. Tarte Tatin
The Tarte Tatin was born in the late 19th century at the Hôtel Tatin, run by two sisters, Stéphanie and Caroline. One day, Stéphanie, who was in charge of cooking, accidentally left apples cooking in butter and sugar for too long. She tried to rescue the dish by putting the pastry base on top of the caramelized apples and baking it upside down. The result was an inverted tart that became the hotel’s signature dish.
8. Worcestershire Sauce
Worcestershire sauce is the result of a happy accident and a lot of patience. In the 1830s, a former governor of Bengal, India, returned to England and hired two chemists to recreate his favorite Indian sauce. Their initial attempt was a disaster they abandoned it in their cellar. Two years later, they stumbled upon the forgotten barrel and discovered the mixture had aged into a mellow, savory sauce that we know today.
7. Nashville Hot Chicken
The story of Nashville hot chicken involves a man named Thornton Prince, a notorious womanizer in the 1930s. After a late night out, his devastated girlfriend decided to teach him a lesson by dousing his fried chicken in a fiery blend of spices. But her plan backfired. Prince loved the spicy chicken so much that he opened his own chicken shack serving it. This creation has since become a Nashville icon.
6. Sandwich
In 1762, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, was in the middle of a 24-hour gambling streak and didn’t want to leave the card table to eat. He asked his valet to bring him some beef served between two slices of bread, so he could eat with one hand while playing. His fellow gamblers were so impressed they started ordering “the same as Sandwich.”
5. Popsicles
Some of the best inventions are the simplest, and the popsicle is an example. This frozen treat was invented in 1905 by an 11-year-old boy named Frank Epperson. One cold night, he accidentally left a mixture of sugary soda powder and water on his porch with a stirring stick still in it. The next morning, he discovered the mixture froze solid, creating the sweet, portable treat we know today.
4. Ice Cream Cones
At the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, an ice cream vendor ran out of dishes to serve his customers. Next to him was a Syrian pastry vendor named Ernest Hamwi, selling zalabia (a crispy, waffle-like pastry). Seeing the ice cream vendor’s problem, Hamwi rolled one of his warm pastries into a cone shape, creating an edible container for the ice cream. The combination was a hit, and the ice cream cone was born.
3. Potato Chips
One of the world’s popular snacks was born out of a petty act in the culinary world. In 1853, a chef named George Crum at Moon’s Lake House in Saratoga Springs, New York, had a customer who repeatedly sent back his fried potatoes, complaining they were too thick and soggy. Frustrated, Crum sliced the potatoes paper-thin, fried them to a crisp, and drenched them in salt. The customer loved the “Saratoga Chips,” and they became a menu favorite.
2. Chocolate Chip Cookies
In the 1930s, Ruth Wakefield, the owner of the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts, was making chocolate cookies when she realized she was out of baker’s chocolate. To improvise, she broke a Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate bar into small pieces and added them to the dough, expecting them to melt. Instead, the chocolate pieces held their shape, creating a delightful new texture.
1. Cheese
One of the world’s oldest and most loved foods was likely discovered by accident more than 7,000 years ago. The story goes that ancient herders in the Middle East stored milk in containers made from the stomachs of animals. This process, combined with the hot sun, created a primitive form of cheese. This accidental discovery has created a new food source that evolved into thousands of different varieties.