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- Born In The USA: These Are Some Of The Most American Foods Ever
Summary
- Chicken and waffles is a strange combo for foreigners, who are used to waffles as a sweet dish. But don't knock it till you try it!
- Canned cheese is considered downright bizarre by foreigners, who don't see it as real cheese. It's unlikely to catch on abroad.
- Sloppy Joes might not look appetizing, but they taste great. Foreigners might be hesitant due to the messy nature of the dish.
If we look at the popular international foods that have been Americanized, it becomes clear that the American culinary tradition is shaped by certain flavors and cooking styles. Foods that are fried, creamy, and full of flavor are the most popular, and while most Americans find their cultural dishes delicious, they sometimes fail to impress foreigners. That’s right: one of the American habits that other countries think is crazy is the food. Check out these foods that are normal to Americans but strange to foreigners.
UPDATE: 2023/11/12 17:43 EST BY JAIMEE TERESE
Born In The USA: These Are Some Of The Most American Foods Ever
While many people born and raised in the United States may not realize it, some of the most commonly consumed American foods are strange or unheard of by foreigners. From bar snacks to nostalgic classics, this article has been expanded to include five more beloved American staples that haven't caught on abroad.
Chicken And Waffles
Most Americans are surprised to discover that the snacks they are so used to are actually only found in America. It’s the same story with chicken and waffles, which many foreigners consider to be one of the weirdest foods in America.
A Southern staple now available all over the country, chicken and waffles confuse so many foreigners because they are used to both ingredients, just not as a combo. In many countries, waffles are served as a sweet dish, often accompanied by fruit, chocolate, and cream. The thought of adding fried chicken and then possibly eggs is kind of overwhelming for them. But that’s not to say they wouldn’t love chicken and waffles if they tried it! That's not the only crazy thing Americans do with waffles - stuffed waffles are also a breakfast sensation in the United States.
- Fun Fact: the origins of chicken and waffles date all the way back to the 1600s in Pennsylvania's Dutch country.
Canned Cheese
Another American food that foreigners think is weird? Canned cheese. Every country has its own kind of cheese, and there’s a lot of variance between the cheeses of the world. But most foreign nations are united in the view that American canned cheese is simply not cheese.
The deep yellow color of American cheese, even if it’s not in a can, can put off foreigners who are used to lighter-colored cheeses, like French camembert, Greek feta, or Indian paneer. But the idea of yellow cheese in a can or even a jar, with such a consistency that it might be able to be sprayed or poured, is just too much for foreigners to absorb. While many would probably grow to love other American foods that they find odd, we can’t see canned cheese ever becoming popular overseas.
- Fun Fact: perhaps a not-so-fun fact is that canned cheese only contains trace amounts of actual cheese (the main ingredients are generally whey and canola oil).
Sloppy Joes
Most Americans love to indulge in Sloppy Joes, but this is another dish that has yet to take off overseas. Burgers might be universal thanks to fast-food chains like McDonald’s, but a Sloppy Joe is something that many foreigners are reluctant to try.
Although we can guarantee that this messy combination of ground beef and its distinctive sauce tastes great, we can understand why tourists may not be willing to try it. They certainly don’t look like the most appealing thing to eat, and the mixture doesn't exactly stay contained to the bun!
- Fun Fact: Joe has a sister named Jane. The Sloppy Jane is regarded as a healthier alternative to the Sloppy Joe, made with lean meat and fresh vegetables.
Peanut Butter (And Especially Peanut Butter & Jelly)
This is probably mind-blowing for Americans who consider peanut butter a pantry fundamental, but the stuff isn’t widely available outside the United States. There are places that have adopted peanut butter, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, but it’s still not as popular as it is in the U.S.
And peanut butter and jelly? That’s not really a thing anywhere but in the United States. Even in the countries where you will find peanut butter, most people don’t eat it in a sandwich with grape jelly. Jelly is something that you will find around the world, but it often goes by a different name. If you’re traveling in Britain and in the mood for jelly, try asking for jam instead.
- Fun Fact: the average American adult eats a peanut butter & jelly sandwich three times per month and consumes around 3000 in a lifetime.
Biscuits And Gravy
Another breakfast favorite that seems to completely baffle foreigners? Biscuits and gravy (also called sausage gravy). Although nothing is overwhelming about biscuits, the thought of adding gravy and eating it as a meal so early in the morning turns off a lot of foreigners. We think that this is another dish that foreigners should try before knocking. They don’t know what they’re missing!
British people, in particular, might be reluctant to try biscuits and gravy because they’ll probably think the recipe uses their version of biscuits: the equivalent of an American shortbread cookie. Now, cookies and gravy are tough to get your head around!
- Fun Fact: originating in Appalachia, it was previously referred to as 'sawmill gravy' because it was a cheap and filling meal for the region's sawmill workers.
Corn Dogs
The humble hot dog is dubbed as a quintessential American backyard cookout and tailgating food in its own right, but once it's wrapped in cornbread, deep-fried, and served on a stick, it really boggles the minds of foreign visitors. Cornbread in itself is also a distinctly American dish, and the combination of the two foods is somewhat unheard of elsewhere.
Interestingly, there is some dispute regarding the actual origin of corn dogs. All fingers point back to the 1920s, but whether they were first created in New York, Texas, Minnesota, or Oregon is a source of continual debate. While corn dogs are an uncommon food outside the United States, they do have an international rendition. Korean corn dogs are popular street food in South Korea that are similar to their American counterparts, but with a slightly sweeter batter and with a bigger variety of fillings and coatings. Australians also have their own version of corn dogs called 'dagwood dogs'.
- Fun Fact: March 19th is National Corn Dog Day, which started in 1992.
Buffalo Wings
If chicken wings come from chickens, then buffalo wings must come from buffalo, right? Foreigners are often confused by the name 'buffalo wings,' but it is derived from their conception in Buffalo, New York, rather than the animal. Although they are a bar-food staple in all corners of the United States, buffalo wings are a relatively recent concept dating back to 1964. First served at Buffalo, New York's family-owned Anchor Bar, the origins of buffalo wings are generally undisputed.
Buffalo wings are deep-fried, without any breading or coating, and then slathered in a seemingly endless array of spicy, zesty sauces.
- Fun Fact: Buffalo, New York, has celebrated Chicken Wing Day annually every July 29th since 1977. After a fill of wings, check out some other amazing things to do in Buffalo, New York.
Ranch dressing
Another weird American food for foreigners is ranch dressing - it is somewhat of an American obsession. It's not so much the dressing itself that is perplexing but Americans' propensity to smother or dip nearly everything in it. Pizza? Ranch dressing. Chicken fingers? Ranch dressing. Mozzarella sticks? Ranch dressing. In fact, ranch dressing is so synonymous with the United States that it is often sold as 'American dressing' in Europe.
The story has it that a plumber in Alaska by the name of Steve Henson whipped up the creation around 1950 while working a construction gig and feeding his crew. Using a mixture of buttermilk and dried herbs, he surely didn't realize at the time that his concoction would go down in history as an American staple.
- Fun Fact: Steve Henson later moved to California, where he purchased a ranch called Hidden Valley. The guest ranch then became the namesake for his brand of ranch dressing.
S'mores
Say the word s'mores to a foreigner, and they will look at you with confusion unless they have embarked on a camping trip or two in the United States. That's because s'mores are another food only found in America and practically unheard of abroad. For one thing, graham crackers are hard (if not impossible) to come by in many foreign countries, and while there are substitutes flavor-wise, the shape and consistency just don't cut it for the gooey campfire treat.
The first recorded version of the classic s'more was published in the Girl Scouts of America handbook - what's more American than that?! This traditional campfire favorite is simple to whip up - just roast a marshmallow over the flames and then sandwich it together between two graham crackers and a square of chocolate. The heat from the marshmallow melts the chocolate and binds everything together.
- Fun Fact: the name 's'more' came from a contraction of the words 'some more' because, well, it's easy to indulge and want to eat some more of this delicious treat!
Tater Tots
Tater tots are a rendition of the humble and versatile potato far more common in the United States than elsewhere. Born in the wake of World War II when TV dinners and frozen foods were skyrocketing in popularity, tater tots could be likened to hot dogs in that they were essentially derived from 'leftovers' with the goal of avoiding food waste. In the 1950s, some entrepreneurial brothers from the Ore-Ida factory decided to find a way to utilize the scraps from irregularly shaped potatoes used in frozen french fry manufacturing, and the rest is history.
- Fun Fact: one of the most popular current renditions of tater tots is referred to as 'tachos', as in, tater-tot nachos. A dive-bar staple (especially in the southern United States), tater tots are smothered with cheese, onions, tomatoes, jalepeños, and more.