Introduction of Microwave Ovens

History

• Dr. Percy Spencer, an engineer for the Raytheon Company, got the idea for the microwave oven in 1946. Spencer was working with a tube called a magnetron, which melted a candy bar in his pocket. After experimenting with food such as popcorn and eggs, Spencer realized the magnetron could cook food at an accelerated rate.

Time Frame

• The Raytheon Company filed a patent in 1946 proposing the use of microwaves for cooking purposes. The company released the first commercial microwave oven, the Radarange, in 1947. In 1965, the same company produced a microwave oven for home use.

Considerations

• The magnetron tube within the microwave cooks food by producing 5 milliwatts of radiation. However, the radiation does not escape because the microwave oven has a protective door screen. The radiation has a wavelength of 120 mm, but the holes in the door screen are just 1 mm in diameter.