“Why did the cook get arrested?”/“He was caught beating an egg.”

A 2011 Cheez-It commercial featured a “not ready” cheese telling this joke to his cheese tester:
 
Q: Why did the cook get arrested?
A: He was caught beating an egg.
 
The food joke (which sometimes has “chef” replacing “cook”) has been cited in print since at least 2004.
 
 
Google Books
Really Silly Jokes
By Cyl Lee
Edina, MN: ABDO Pub.
2004
Pg. 20:
Why did the cook get arrested? Because he beat an egg!
   
1337.com Forum
Coolguy 
October 26th, 2005
 
Q:Why did the cook get arrested?
A: Because he beat up an egg.
   
Google Books
A Recipe for Success:
Lizzie Kander and Her Cookbook
By Bob Kann
Madison, WI: Wisconsin Historical Society Press
2007
Pg. 50:
Why did the cook get arrested? Because he beat up an egg.
   
Karen B’s Cooking Made Easy!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Cooking Humor: Why did the Chef get arrested?
Why did the Chef get arrested?
Because he was caught beating an egg!
 
Hayya Lee
Why did the cook get arrested?
Because he beat an egg! Cheesy, yes I know, but that joke cracks me up! It’s from a Cheez-it commercial that I recently saw and absolutely love.
(...)
This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 at 8:50 AM