A Look At The History Of Microwave Ovens
The human race has indeed accomplished several inventions that completely turned life easier to live. With these innovations, tasks are done with full speed and complete ease. To mention, the microwave ovens form part of this brilliant contraption. It is a vital kitchen device that is used in baking, cooking, boiling water, and thawing. The truth is that this little dynamo is capable of doing lots of things.
It matters to us that food is prepared quickly especially if you do live a hectic lifestyle. Hence, there is nothing more helpful than possessing this kitchen appliance right in your own home. But do you know where it came from and how it was discovered? Well, this article will lead you to its history so read on!
An Accidental Discovery
Little do people know that the microwave oven has been accidentally found as certain by product of other technological inventions. The history of this kitchen appliance goes a long way back to the World War II era wherein there were two brilliant scientists who created a magnetron, a specific type of tube that emits microwaves. In the war, the magnetrons were mounted into the radar system of Britain which helped a lot in spotting the Nazi fighter planes. A couple of years after, these scientists discovered that the then microwaves were able to cook food. Even more, the very first microwave was too heavy and as big as the size of a refrigerator.
It was in the year 1946 when the microwave’s capacity to cook food was discovered by no less than Dr. Percy Spencer. He was then working for the Raytheon Corporation on some radar-related research project. He was testing the magnetron when he noticed that the candy bar which was inside his pocket suddenly melted. It was an unusual thing for him and so he conducted another experiment. This time, he put popcorn kernels near the tube and he was very surprised to see the popcorn crack and sputter. Thereafter, other experiments were conducted which led to the conclusion that the microwave’s temperature can be escalated which cooked food faster.
The households began employing microwave ovens in the year 1967. Amana, the company that was a subsidiary of Raytheon, first marketed its Radarange countertop microwave oven. It was smaller yet safer and also very expensive like about $500 for its selling price. Of course, its introduction did not give a successful sale but in 1975, the microwave oven has proven to all households that it has an ability that surpasses what is expected of the gas ranges. And so, in the years to come, more and more people demanded for this appliance.
With the passing of time, many companies have started manufacturing and marketing their creations. Each microwave is different from the other in terms of design, capacity, size, taste, shape, and price. These days, the appliance comes in numerous features like sensor cooking, defrosting, convection, automatic setting, and many other cooking applications.
Indeed, the microwave ovens have captured the hearts of many households. And so now, they are very much needed.
The Different Types Of Microwave Ovens
Since microwaves are present in almost every home across the country, it is now safe to say that this appliance is a great American kitchen staple. While it cannot (or it isn’t designed to) replace the conventional gas range, it provides users a good and more convenient way to heat and reheat their food in case they need a quick meal.
There are actually five types of microwave ovens – convection, over-the-range or built-in, countertop, commercial, and combination ovens. The type you should buy for your home will actually depend on different factors like the available space in your kitchen, your cooking needs, the microwave’s design, and many other factors. To assist you in choosing the microwave that’s right for you, here are the different microwave oven types and their pros and cons:
Countertop
This is good for those who have larger or wider kitchen countertop. While this type of microwaves are less costly compared to other types, they do eat up much of the space in your counter. This is also easy to operate; you simply need to plug it into the wall plug and you can start heating or cooking your meals.
Convection
Such microwave type combines traditional microwave technology with heat energy to let you roast, brown, and grill your food. Aside from the heating element it comes equipped with, this type also contains a fan to facilitate hot air circulation. These elements make this type of oven a real energy saver and a unit that produces even cooking temperatures, thereby, tasty food.
Over-the-range and built-in
If your countertop is a bit crowded and you can’t just make a room for a countertop microwave, a built-in or over-the-range oven can be the best option. Yes, this type of microwave won’t eat up that valuable countertop space; however, you need to hire a pro just to have your oven installed properly. Because of their features plus the installation cost, built-in and over-the-range microwaves generally come more expensive.
Combination
Combination ovens are smaller than other types but they do heat up food way faster than traditional models. The advantage of this type of microwave is it gives you the flexibility to switch between modes, enabling you to heat food the way you do in a convection or a conventional oven.
Commercial
Designed for commercial use especially in office buildings, restaurants, and other public places, commercial ovens usually come bulky and they are often outfitted with anti-theft feature. They are made incredibly powerful and perfectly built for heavy use.
Microwaves can also be classified according to their capacities. There are compact microwaves, medium capacity microwaves, and large capacity microwaves. Compact units are usually less than 18 inches wide, 14 inches deep, and 12 inches tall and their capacity is less than one cubic foot. The wattage of such units ranges from 500 to 1000 watts. Medium capacity microwaves come with a width of 20 inches or more and with capacities of 1 – 1.5 cubic feet. Such type usually has auto-cook features that are not common in compact units.
Large capacity microwaves, on the other hand, come with a plethora of cook features plus more accurate temperature controls. These large microwaves can cook even your entire meals. It comes with more than 2000 power watts and more than two cubic feet capacity.