National Microwave Oven Day

6 December is National Microwave Oven Day – a day to show one of your most used household appliances some appreciation.

The method of heating food safely with microwave ovens was discovered quite by accident in 1945, when self-taught engineer Percy Spencer noticed his chocolate bar melting in his pocket while working with active radar. The high-powered microwave beams created heat, which was ideal for cooking, and made Spencer want to experiment some more. He deliberately attempted to cook popcorn with these microwaves, and an egg was next. He found that the egg was less successful than the popcorn – the egg exploded in his fellow engineer’s face

Spencer was employed by Raytheon, where he experimented with a variety of different methods of heating food safely with microwaves. On 8 October 1945, Raytheon filed an application to patent Spencer’s microwave cooking process. The first microwave oven – called the Radarange – was made available commercially by Raytheon in 1947. It is said that more than 90 per cent of homes globally, now have a microwave oven in them.

To celebrate National Microwave Oven Day, cook your favourite meal in the microwave or use it to heat up some of last night’s dinner.

Post on social media using #NationalMicrowaveOvenDay.

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