7 Well-Known Foods Invented Accidentally

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ruth Wakefield accidentally added chunks of chocolate to cookie dough, creating the beloved chocolate chip cookie.

Burrito

A street vendor accidentally dropped a load of food into a tortilla, creating the wrap-style burrito.

Mozzarella Cheese

Legend has it that mozzarella was created when cheese curds fell into a pail of hot water in Italy, resulting in the stretchy and delicious cheese we know today.

Popsicle

In 1905, 11-year-old Frank Epperson left a mixture of soda and water with a stirring stick on his porch overnight, and it froze. The accidental creation became the popsicle.

Beer

Ancient civilizations likely discovered beer when grains accidentally fermented in water, creating a mildly alcoholic beverage.

Potato Chips

Chef George Crum invented these thin, crispy delights in response to a customer's complaint about thick and soggy French fries.

French Fries

The origins of French fries are debated, but some stories attribute their creation to a chef in France who accidentally cut potatoes too thin and then fried them.

VIEW ALL

Read Next Story