Foods That Were Invented by Accident

Worcestershire sauce was created by Lea & Perrins when a fish and vinegar mix was forgotten for years fermenting into a tangy sauce per BBC Good Food.

Sourdough’s modern form was influenced by accidental over-fermentation but ciabatta was born in 1982 when a baker’s unshaped dough puffed uniquely per King Arthur Baking.

Tootsie Rolls were created in 1896 by Leo Hirshfield but gummy bears were invented in 1922 by Hans Riegel when he overcooked molasses into a chewy candy per Haribo history.

Roquefort cheese was born when a shepherd left milk in a cave and it curdled into blue-veined cheese due to Penicillium mold per Cheese.com.

The banana split was created in Latrobe Pennsylvania when David Strickler topped a split banana with ice cream as an impromptu dish per Smithsonian Magazine.

The chocolate chip cookie was invented in 1938 when Ruth Wakefield at Toll House Inn added chocolate bits to dough expecting them to melt creating cookies instead per Smithsonian Magazine.

Coca-Cola was created by John Pemberton in Atlanta when he accidentally mixed his syrup with carbonated water instead of still water per Coca-Cola history.

Potato chips were invented by George Crum in Saratoga Springs when he sliced potatoes paper-thin to annoy a customer who wanted thinner fries per History.com.

Peanut butter was refined by George Washington Carver and others but modern creamy peanut butter emerged from over-roasting peanuts per National Peanut Board.

Corn Flakes were created by John and Will Kellogg when they accidentally left wheat dough overnight baking the stale flakes per Kellogg’s history.