It goes without saying that burgers are the American favorite when it comes to popular foods. Who even invented the idea? A Texas man claimed to have called "dibs" on the burger concept in the 1880s, but later on in the 1900s, a Connecticut woman was said to have invented the burger. This argument definitely won't get settled, but we can agree on one thing: burgers are an American classic!

Why does America choose to honor such a traditional food? Why is the burger a favorite? It comes down to the fact that we don't always have time to eat dinner with a fork and spoon. We are always on-the-go and in a rush which enables a food choice that is up-to-par with our mobility. The burger is compact, (for the most part), and is a go-to menu request from ultra-fine dining to bars and pubs. We can lift our steak and eat without dissecting it in our plates. Lift. Bite. Chew. Repeat. It isn't such a hard thing to mess up. Let's break down the classic, hearty hamburger.

The Bun

It all starts with the bun, whether it's seeded or seedless. The bun basically holds the burger in place, creating the clever design and ultimately a one-handed meal. Isn't that what we want? An easy meal that tastes like beefy goodness? Well a burger is difficult without its breaded portion and there are too many choices to pick from: toast, English muffin, and the more exciting pretzel bun to name a few. Other choices aren't even typically bread: lettuce wrapped burgers are a favorite for the health conscious foodie, and others include innovative ideas like fried macaroni and cheese as a crispy alternative to the classic bun.

The Meat

The bun may be an important component of the burger, but the meat is the main event. Burgers can be cooked rare, medium and well-done and sometimes can get a lot more detailed with cooking instructions but for the most part, the meat should be seasoned immaculately before it hits the grill.

Typically, salt and pepper should do the trick but if you are looking for some real zesty, bite-worthy seasonings, try Adobo and cayenne pepper. This is the area where burgers really stand out from the rest and it all stems down to how it's cooked.

The Toppings

Toppings are like the icing on a cake, or maybe like the bacon on your burger. Bob always enticed his customers with catchy phrases for his burger of the day, and do you know why? Burgers are meant to have something extra between the bun and the patty. The classic burger usually comes with lettuce, tomato and some sort of sauce, (ketchup or mayo). Bacon is often added to burgers along with many different cheese choices and the bond between the two are stronger than peanut butter and jelly.

How could you go wrong with such compact goodness? Burgers are the a key component to American foodies and can be ordered just about anywhere. I will be reviewing different burgers in NYC and neighboring areas in the coming weeks so stay tuned! For more information on The American Burger, look-out for more ideas and burger types on Instagram.