How Did White Castle Get Its Name?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Our founder, Billy Ingram—Billy was an entrepreneurial kind of person—struck up a great friendship with restaurateur Walt Anderson. Billy became really intrigued by this idea of the hamburger sandwich. He came up with the name:

White for cleanliness and Castle for permanence and strength

.

What did White Castle used to be called?

It began with an idea.

In 1921, Billy Ingram launched a family-owned business with $700 and an idea, selling five-cent, small, square hamburgers so easy to eat, they were dubbed

Sliders

and sold by the sack.

Why are there 5 holes in White Castle burgers?

There are holes in the meat patties

The crave-worthy sliders have five holes in the patties. According to CBS News, this is

so the can be thoroughly cooked through faster without having to flip it over

. The idea to incorporate these holes came from an employee suggestion back in 1954.

Is White Castle named after founder?

Background.

Walter (Walt) A. Anderson

(1880–1963), a cook, had been running food stands in Wichita since 1916, when he opened his first diner in a converted streetcar. After a second and third location, he was looking to open a fourth location when he met Edgar Waldo “Billy” A.

Is White Castle changing their name?

Founder Billy Ingram chose the word White signifying “purity and cleanliness,” and Castle meaning “strength, permanence and stability” for our brand's now iconic name.

There won't be any name changes in the future

, but it's worth noting that we happen to think we're pretty green, too.

Why does White Castle mess up your stomach?

You may get a sour stomach after eating White Castle sliders

About 30 minutes after they stuffed themselves, according to Liam, “we went out to his garden and we threw up together.” Whether it's the

dehydrated onions or the processed meat patties

, White Castle sliders have a reputation for causing a sour stomach.

What state has the most White Castles?

The state with the most number of White Castle locations in the US is

Illinois

, with 61 locations, which is 17% of all White Castle locations in America.

What is White Castle meat made of?

White Castle starts with a stack of

100% beef

(“We call that a beef log,” said Richardson) that then goes through the Meat Horn, which puts the holes in the log. The patties are then sliced and sent out to White Castles across the nation ready to be steamed.

How much was a White Castle hamburger in 1970?

In 1970, your burger cost

an average of $0.18

.

Is White Castle healthier than Mcdonalds?

While they're slightly higher in protein and fiber than Burger King and McDonald's,

White Castle's almost double the sodium of our healthiest pick

. It's similar to Burger King's hamburger in size and numbers, but takes second because of its higher sodium content.

Which is better Krystal or White Castle?

The Verdict

So

if you want a sweet burger, go with White Castle, but for tangy and savory burgers, it's Krystal

. The other major difference between the two is the bun, as Krystal feels fuller. However, some folks might prefer White Castle because of its juicy sweet taste, and it is also a few cents cheaper.

Is there liver in White Castle burgers?

It's German brown creamy mustard with just a wonderful hint of vinegar. SECRET INGREDIENT: If there is a secret ingredient to the White Castle Burger,

it's not peanut butter, baby food (yuk), or liver (double yuk); it's in the onions

. The onions have to be dried, and rehydrated before using.

Where was the original White Castle restaurant?

Wichita, KS

Where is the oldest White Castle?


Indianapolis White Castle

#3
Added to NRHP June 23, 2011

What is the oldest fast food chain?


White Castle

Since A&W started out as a root beer stand, many people consider White Castle to be the world's first true fast food restaurant. White Castle was founded in 1921 by Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson in Wichita, Kansas.

Are Krystal and White Castle the same?


The differences between the two chains are relatively minor

, since both inhabit the very lowest rung of the fast-food hierarchy (just below Taco Bell, to be specific). Whereas White Castle calls their tiny steamed hamburgers “sliders,” Krystal, just like an unoriginal Southern cousin, calls theirs “Krystals.”

Is there a White Castle in Texas?

White Castle owns and operates more than 375 restaurants, primarily in the Midwest. While

it has no locations in Texas

, it does sell its sliders in grocery stores such as H-E-B.

Is White Tower the same as White Castle?

White Tower Hamburgers was a fast food restaurant chain that was founded in 1926 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With its similar white fortress-like buildings and menu

it is considered to be an imitator of White Castle chain

that was founded in 1921.

Who came first Krystal vs White Castle?

Krystal is the seventh or eighth-oldest hamburger chain in the United States (

the oldest being White Castle

) and the oldest in the South.

What meat is in White Castle hamburgers?

Like regular hamburgers, White Castle hamburgers are made with

ground beef

, which is high in fat, protein and calories.

How does White Castle cook their burgers?

Is there a White Castle in Hawaii?

White Castle –

1450 Ala Moana Blvd , Honolulu, HI 96814

– TrumpetRatings.com.

Who invented the hamburger?

The invention of hamburgers is commonly attributed to various people, including

Charlie Nagreen, Frank and Charles Menches, Oscar Weber Bilby, Fletcher Davis, or Louis Lassen

. White Castle traces the origin of the hamburger to Hamburg, Germany with its invention by Otto Kuase.

What was the first White Castle?

White Castle opened its first restaurants in

Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1927

and in Columbus in 1929. Anderson left the company in 1933, and Ingram soon decided to move the headquarters from Wichita to Columbus.

How did sliders get their name?


The name originated in the 1940s, when sailors in the U.S. Navy would refer to mini-burgers as “sliders” because of their extreme greasiness

. In just one or two bites, the burger would just slide right down! The slider was first created at White Castle, a popular American fast food chain restaurant.

Do White Castles have cabbage on them?


It is a ridiculous myth

. The company admits in their FAQ that they use dehydrated onions for their burgers, as they have been doing since World War II, when onions were rationed and in short supply.

Does Taco Bell use horse meat?

In the UK, where they only have three establishments to maintain,

there have been traces of horse meat found in Taco Bell's ground “beef”

which is used for a substantial portion of the fast food chain's menu.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.