"microwave oven day" news and stories

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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Now, I'm not sure if this means this is the day to buy a microwave oven or cook something in a microwave oven. I'll assume the former (though maybe this is a good day to finally replace the one you've been using for 15 years).

There are actually several books about microwaving oven cooking: Microwave Gourmet by Barbara Kafka, A Man, A Can, A Microwave, by David Joachim and Men's Health, and perhaps the first (or at least one of the first) books on microwave cooking, Richard Deacon's Microwave Oven Cookwave. Yup, the same Richard Deacon who played Mel Cooley on The Dick Van Dyke Show. He also has one titled Richard Deacon's Microwave Cookery. Not sure if it's the same book or not.