Happy Microwave Oven Day!

by Alexa Weibel, Posted Dec 6th 2009 @ 1:30PM

Microwaved popcorn. Photo: SnackStoop, Flickr.

Happy Microwave Oven Day!

Pioneered in 1946, the microwave oven was yet another "accidental" discovery of sorts -- Raytheon engineer Percy Spencer happened to walk by a microwave tube and notice that a candy bar in his pocket had melted, spurring him to research its power to cook food. Officially named the Radarange (but comically dubbed the "Speedie Weenie," for its ability to heat hot dogs in a flash), the first microwave oven weighed a whopping 670 pounds and stood nearly five feet tall -- hardly appropriate for household use. A microwave oven suited for home consumption didn't hit the market until 1955, but by 1976 the invention was used in 60% of American homes.

According to one research company, microwave ovens cook 22.5% of main meals in the U.S. today. In light of the economic downturn, more and more Americans are eating at home -- and it's no surprise microwave use is on the rise.

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Filed Under: Food News, Gadgets
Tags: microwave, microwave oven, microwave oven day