Chowhound
  • Recipes
    • Course
    • Dish Type
    • Main Ingredients
    • Drink Recipes
    • Dietary Considerations
    • Preparation
    • Cuisine
  • Cooking
    • Baking
    • Grilling & Smoking
  • Drinks
    • Coffee & Tea
    • Cocktails & Spirits
    • Beer & Wine
    • Mixology & Techniques
  • Kitchen
    • Tips
    • How-To
    • Kitchen Tools
    • Storage & Preservation
    • Cleaning
    • Design & Decor
  • Shopping
    • Shopping Tips
    • Stores & Chains
  • Facts
    • Food Science
    • Food History
  • Restaurants
    • Fast Food
    • Pizzerias
    • Coffee Shops
  • Eat Like A Local
    • Atlanta, Georgia
    • Chicago, Illinois
    • Denver, Colorado
    • Las Vegas, Nevada
    • Los Angeles, California
    • Miami, Florida
    • New Orleans, Louisiana
    • New York City, New York
    • San Francisco, California
  • Gardening
  • Features
  • Newsletter
  • About
  • Editorial Policies
  • Our Experts
  • Archive
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
© 2026 Static Media. All Rights Reserved
Chowhound
Chowhound
Food History
Recipes Cooking Drinks Kitchen Shopping Facts Restaurants Eat Like A Local Gardening Features
  • Newsletter

Food History

  • Pirate flag on a ship's mast against the sky

    The Old-School Cooking Method Utilized By Pirates

    Pirates in the Caribbean region famously used this method to cook meat. It might look familiar thanks to its similarity to a popular modern-day cooking method.

    By Audrey Farnsworth 11 hours ago Read More
  • McRib sandwich sitting on top of its box

    Why McDonald's Invented The McRib In The First Place

    McDonald's has had many fascinating menu items over the years, but few as enduringly mysterious as the McRib. Here's why it was invented.

    By Andrew Amelinckx 14 hours ago Read More
  • Ribs on a wooden serving board.

    How This Iconic '90s Jingle Made Baby Back Ribs A Cultural Staple

    Chili's baby back ribs jingle is perhaps one of the most famous TV jingles of the '90s, and even beyond. Here's how it rose to the top of the zeitgeist.

    By Hilary Wheelan Remley 1 day ago Read More
  • A cowboy moving cattle along a plain

    The Classic Snack Cowboys Ate On The Trail That You Can Still Buy Today

    Cowboys needed food that was easy to store and carry, and which would last long on the road. This meaty snack fit the bill, and it's popular even today.

    By Ryan Zanoni 1 day ago Read More
  • An assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables

    This Vegetable Was Once Referred To As The 'Mad Apple' In The Renaissance — Here's Why

    In the Renaissance, this vegetable used to be referred to as the "mad apple." Here's why this now-popular ingredient had such an unflattering name.

    By Eugenia Lazaris 2 days ago Read More
  • Food inspector inspecting apples.

    The 9 Biggest Fruit Recalls In US History

    From cantaloupes to peaches to grapes, fruit has been one of the biggest culprits for agricultural recalls and outbreaks in American history.

    By Jon Dempsey 2 days ago Read More
  • Food cans organized into rows

    7 Modern Foods That Were Old-School Pantry Must-Haves

    These food items are sold and stored very differently now, either in boxes or plastic packaging, or kept in the refrigerator. However, they once came canned.

    By Amanda Berkey 3 days ago Read More
  • A kitchen in 1930 with a Monarch electric stove and oven appliance.

    Almost Every Stove Had This Built-In Feature For Soup In The '30s. Now You Never See It

    Nearly each stove in the 1930s had this now obsolete feature designed to handle soups. Learn about this forgotten piece of kitchenware history.

    By Brianna Gunter 7 days ago Read More
  • Covered cast-iron pan over a campfire

    The Civil War Steak Dish Invented By A Doctor As Military Medicine

    You may not think of this dish as medicine anymore, but it's original recipe was created as an easy to digest meal for Civil War soldiers with upset stomachs.

    By Robert Bruce 7 days ago Read More
  • Table in a KFC booth set with plates of fried chicken, rolls, coleslaw, and mashedpotatoes

    What It Was Like To Eat At KFC In The '80s

    From fried chicken buffets to discontinued menu favorites, here’s what made eating at KFC in the '80s a very different experience than it is today.

    By Amanda Berkey 7 days ago Read More
  • A 1980s kitchen

    7 Forgotten Things Found In '80s Kitchens

    Step inside a 1980s kitchen and revisit the appliances, decor, cookware, appliances, and countertop essentials that defined the decade's distinctive style.

    By Jon Dempsey 8 days ago Read More
  • Assorted seasonings and wooden spoons

    Not McCormick — America's Oldest Spice Brand Has Been Bottling Blends Since 1867

    If you thought McCormick was the oldest name in American spices, you might be surprised to learn about this vintage specialty seasonings brand.

    By Julia Mullaney 8 days ago Read More
  • Sloppy joe sandwiches on a dark gray slate board

    This Canned Soup Is Your Secret To Flavor-Rich, 1950s-Style Sloppy Joes

    Sloppy Joes make for a satisfying meal, and you can easily upgrade the vintage American sandwiches simply by adding this classic canned soup.

    By Amanda Berkey 9 days ago Read More
  • Jars of candy in an old-fashioned candy shop

    15 Oldest Candy Shops In The US

    From colonial-era confectioners to historic sweet shops, these are the oldest candy stores in the country that are still serving classic treats today.

    By Stephanie Mee 9 days ago Read More
  • a vintage photo of a couple grilling steaks together

    How Much Beef Cost In The '60s Vs 2026

    The prices of beef are only going up in 2026, which has many longing for the cheaper beef prices of the past. But how much did beef really cost in the '60s?

    By Andrew Amelinckx 10 days ago Read More
  • Someone's hands holding a package of chicken in a supermarket aisle in front of an open cooler of other chicken packages.

    The Average Cost Of Chicken In The '70s Vs 2026

    Inflation impacts the price tag of pretty much everything, including chicken. Here's how the average cost of chicken has changed from the '70s to 2026.

    By Brianna Gunter 12 days ago Read More
  • A golden beer in a glass with a small amount of frothy head at the top against a blurred background

    Boomers Will Remember This Best-Selling '80s Beer That's Known For Its Creamy Finish

    Mention this best-selling beer from the '80s to boomers, and you'll likely hear reminiscences of its drinkability, creamy finish, and affordable price.

    By JC Gonzalez 13 days ago Read More
  • Person grabbing a happy meal box from drive-thru window.

    The McDonald's Happy Meal Promo From The '80s That Blows Modern Ones Out Of The Water

    This vintage Happy Meal was a product of its time in the best way, capturing a key part of '80s pop culture in an imaginative, child-friendly package.

    By Tara Bowen 13 days ago Read More
  • Canned pears and canned oranges.

    The Retro Southern Canned Pear Salad That Still Divides Dinner Tables

    Depending on where and when you grew up, this pear salad recipe might be a fond childhood memory or your least favorite dish. Here's how it got started.

    By Hilary Wheelan Remley 14 days ago Read More
  • Canned foods grocery aisle

    This Vintage Brand Known For Canned Meat Alternatives Has Been Operating For More Than 120 Years

    While plant-based proteins are all the rage now, there's one company that's been making canned meat alternatives for well over a century. Here's what to know.

    By Andrew Amelinckx 15 days ago Read More
  • A black and white image of a woman and two children shopping for canned goods in the 1960s

    9 Canned Foods Everyone Ate In The '60s

    The 1960s was a time of changing diets and tastes, with convenience meals becoming a bigger part of the food landscape. These 9 canned foods were '60s staples.

    By Audrey Farnsworth 15 days ago Read More
  • Hand holding up a Bomb Pop

    Kansas City Put Bomb Pops On The Map As The Iconic Popsicle We Know And Love Today

    Bomb Pops are a summertime non-negotiable. This red, white, and blue popsicle with its iconic rocket shape was first crafted in Kansas City, Missouri.

    By Jenna Rapsis 17 days ago Read More
  • A McDonald's apple pie in its white, green, and red cardboard sleeve sits on top of a closed box of food and beside an open container of French fries on a tabletop.

    Meet The Family Behind McDonald's Fried Apple Pie Recipe From The '60s

    The fried apple pie from McDonald's is back for a limited time, but we first saw it in the 1960s. Here's what we know about the family who developed the recipe.

    By Ryan Zanoni 19 days ago Read More
  • Old West saloon with bottles of drink on tables

    Not Just Whiskey Or Coffee: Cowboys Swigged This Forgotten Drink In The Old West

    Cowboys in the Old West drank their share of whiskey and coffee, but those aren't the only beverages they consumed. They also swigged this forgotten drink.

    By Amy Andrews 19 days ago Read More
  • A Wendy's Frostys in a line up

    How The Wendy's Frosty Cemented Its Place In American Dessert History

    Wendy’s Frosty has been a fast food dessert staple since the 1960s, and the story behind its famous taste and texture is almost as good as the treat itself.

    By Stephanie Mee 19 days ago Read More
  • Table filled with assorted breakfast staples including yogurt, scrambled eggs, milk, juice, granola, and fruits

    The Canned Fruit Everyone Started Eating For Breakfast In The 1930s

    This canned classic breakfast citrus first became popular in U.S. households nearly a century ago. Here's why it became a staple at the time that it did.

    By Amy Andrews 20 days ago Read More
  • Barbecue sauce in a white ramekin next to a spoon on a gray surface

    This Old-School BBQ Sauce Brand Has Been A Southern Favorite Since 1935

    There aren't many barbecue sauce brands out there that have been around as long as this one. Here's why it's been a fan favorite for over 90 years.

    By Jennifer Magid 20 days ago Read More
About Archive Privacy Policy
© 2026 Static Media® Chowhound.com All Rights Reserved
More From Static Media
EngadgetJalopnikTVLineFoodieFood RepublicMashedTasting TableThe Daily MealThe Takeout
Chowhound