In 1945, an engineer named Percy Spencer was working at Raytheon on a military radar project when a small but tasty accident happened. Spencer wasn’t trying to invent a new way to heat food—in fact, he was focused on improving radar technology using magnetrons, a key component of radar systems. But one day, while standing near an active magnetron, he noticed something strange—his candy bar melted in his pocket!

The Sweet Realization

Curious about what caused the candy bar to melt, Spencer did what any great inventor would do: more experiments. He placed popcorn kernels near the magnetron, and they quickly started popping. Next, he tried an egg, which heated up so fast it exploded! These experiments showed that the microwaves emitted by the magnetron could heat food rapidly by exciting the water molecules inside it.

Spencer realized that this accidental discovery could revolutionize cooking, and he set out to build the first microwave oven. Raytheon saw the potential and filed the first patent for a microwave oven later that year.

A Giant (and Expensive) First Step

The first commercial microwave oven, named the Radarange, hit the market in 1947. But it was huge, standing over 6 feet tall, and weighed about 750 pounds! Not only that, but it cost a whopping $3,000—about $30,000 in today’s money. Understandably, it wasn’t exactly flying off the shelves.

However, as the technology improved, microwave ovens got smaller, more affordable, and more accessible. By the 1960s, countertop microwaves were starting to pop up in restaurants and homes.

From Gourmet Gadget to Household Staple

By the 1970s, the microwave oven had become much more compact and affordable, allowing it to become a common kitchen appliance. It completely changed how people prepared food, offering a fast, convenient way to cook or heat up meals. Suddenly, you could reheat leftovers, pop popcorn, or cook a baked potato in a matter of minutes!