Microwave oven

A microwave oven is a kitchen appliance employing microwave radiation primarily to cook or heat food.

History

The idea for using microwaves to cook food was discovered by Percy Spencer who was working for Raytheon and was building magnetrons for radar sets. One day he was working on an active radar set when he had noticed a sudden and strange sensation, and saw that a chocolate bar he had in his pocket had melted. The holder of 120 patents, Spencer was no stranger to discovery and experiment, and realized what was happening. The first food to be deliberately cooked with microwaves was popcorn, and the second was an egg (which exploded in the face of one of the experimenters).

Related Topics:
Percy Spencer - Raytheon - Magnetron - Radar - Chocolate - Patent - Popcorn

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In 1946 Raytheon patented the microwave cooking process and in 1947, they built the first commercial microwave oven, the Radarange. It was almost 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 750 pounds (340 kg). It was water-cooled and produced 3000 watts, about three times the amount of radiation produced by microwave ovens today. This first step was so successful that Raytheon eventually purchased Amana to round-out a complete home appliance product suite.

Related Topics:
1946 - 1947 - Watt - Amana

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In the 1960s, Litton bought from Studebaker, Franklin Manufacturing assets, which had been manufacturing magnetrons, building, and selling microwave ovens similar to the Radarange.

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Litton then developed a unique configuration of the microwave, the short, wide shape that is now common. The magnetron feed was also unique. This resulted in an oven that could survive a 'no-load' condition indefinitely.

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The new oven was shown at a trade show in Chicago, and this was the beginning of the revolutionary growth of home microwave ovens.

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A number of other companies joined in the market, and for a time most systems were built by defense contractors, who were the most familiar with the magnetron. Litton was particularly well known in the restaurant business. By the late 1970s the technology had improved to the point where prices were falling rapidly. Formerly found only in large industrial applications, microwaves were increasingly becoming a standard fixture of most (western) kitchens. The rapidly falling price of microprocessors also helped by adding electronic controls to make the ovens easier to use. By the late 1980s they were almost universal and currently it is estimated that nearly 95% of American households have a microwave.

Related Topics:
Litton - 1970s - Microprocessor - 1980s

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