When is National Microwave Oven Day?

National Microwave Oven Day, December 6th, honors one appliance that changed how we use the kitchen.

Percy Spencer, a self-taught American engineer, discovered a way to heat food safely with microwaves, perhaps by accident. He discovered a melting chocolate bar in his pocket while working with an active radar in 1945. The high-powered microwave beams gave a heating effect that is perfect for cooking. Spencer purposefully tried to cook popcorn with the microwaves. He tried an egg the next time. Both the popcorn and egg had dramatic results. Unlike the egg, the popcorn turned out to be a hit, but not the egg. In his fellow engineer's face, the egg exploded. However, we can also cook eggs in microwave ovens. Try poaching one.

Spencer, who was employed by Raytheon, continued to experiment with new ways of heating food safely with microwaves.