Hotbox: The Oven From Turnspit Dogs to Microwaves

Humans are the only animals that cook their food, an innovation
that changed the course of our evolution and the trajectory of the
planet. But how did we tame those early cooking fires and put them
in a box—and what can subsequent leaps forward in heating
technology tell us about cuisines and culture? This episode, we’re
taking you on a whirlwind tour through oven history and science,
from the legendary roast beef of Old England—and the special dogs
bred to turn the spits on which it hung—to the curious origins of
the microwave in military radar technology. What do we gain and
lose when our ovens change—and how might understanding that help
with the quest to bring better cookstoves to the developing world?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
podcastchoices.com/adchoices