Who Invented the Microwave?

The man behind the curtain

The microwave oven was, in fact, a byproduct of other technological developments.  No one set out to change the way in which we cook our food. It all began in 1946 at Raytheon Corporation.  Dr. Perry Spencer, a genius and self taught electronics engineer, was touring one of his labs.  He stopped in front of the magnetron, the power tube that was responsible for radar.  Much to his surprise, the candy bar in his pocket had melted!

A single experiment

Dr. Spencer was intrigued about what had happened to his candy bar.  And so he decided to try another experiment. He placed corn kernels next to the magnetron, and they began to pop and sputter.  This experiment alone convinced Dr. Spencer that there was something remarkable about the power of the magnetron on food. He did one more experiment, this time on an egg, which produced it sizzling and fried. The microwave was born.

The mother of all cookers

The first microwave has gigantic, by today's standards.  It weighed 750 pounds and was five feet, six inches tall.  Of course, a microwave this size wasn't very practical.  It entered the commercial market in 1947, but was only used in places where large quantities of food was being prepared, such as in restaurants and railroad cars.  

Not a big hit

Not surprisingly, the microwave oven was not met with favorable reviews, due to its impractical size and high cost, which was around $5000.  There were also cooking shortcomings, such as the fact that the microwave turned some foods soggy and couldn't brown meat. 

Making a comeback

Over the next decade refinements were made to the microwave oven.  Scientists were able to develop a smaller more cost effective version, called the Ragarange, which came on the market in 1952.  The microwave quickly gained popularity in the common household, and by 1975 more microwaves were being sold than gas ranges. 

The current culture

Today, microwaves are a staple in the American home.  They have revolutionized the way that people cook, and they continue to bring convenience to our lives.  It looks as though the microwave is here to stay.  

More information on microwaves