The Invention of the Microwave Oven (B2)

In the early 20th century, a remarkable invention changed the way people cooked and reheated food. This invention was the microwave oven. The story of its creation is both fascinating and unexpected.

It all began in 1945 when an engineer named Percy Spencer was working on radar technology for the Raytheon Corporation. While he was working on a magnetron, which is a type of vacuum tube that produces microwaves, Spencer noticed something unusual. He had a chocolate bar in his pocket, and when he stood near the magnetron, the chocolate melted! This sparked an idea in his mind. If microwaves could melt chocolate, perhaps they could also cook food.

Spencer decided to experiment further. He placed popcorn kernels near the magnetron, and to his surprise, they began to pop! This was an exciting moment for him. He realized that microwaves could heat food quickly and efficiently. Spencer’s curiosity led him to think about how this technology could be useful in the kitchen.