The countertop microwave oven was introduced in 1967 by the Amana Corporation. After microwave ovens became affordable for residential use in the late 1970s, their use spread into commercial and residential kitchens around the world, and prices fell rapidly during the 1980s.
When did microwaves become popular? Residential microwaves climbed in popularity throughout the 1970s and, by 1986, roughly one in four American homes owned a microwave oven. By 1997, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nine of every ten American homes had a microwave.
The first imports to Australia were used mainly in take-away food outlets, but by 1980 around 150,000 households had a microwave, with penetration reaching 50 per cent by 1989 and around 77 per cent by December 1995.
It took more than 25 years for the appliance to become small enough and affordable enough to be a household staple. Despite some safety concerns, by the mid-1970s millions of microwave ovens were being sold to consumers each year.
Zap it! Oven-sized microwaves for the home were introduced in 1955, but not until the 1980s did shrinking sizes and prices attract buyers. Although manufacturers envisioned home cooks using microwaves to prepare traditional meals with all the trimmings, not many did.
Microwave oven
If you wanted to reheat leftovers quickly in 1985, you could get an 0.8-cubic-foot microwave from Sears for about $240. You'd nuke your budget at the same time, though, as that's the equivalent of $585 today.
Microwave ovens have been a feature of most of our kitchens since the early to mid 1990's. Did you know however that the first microwave ovens were already commercially available way back in 1947?
By 1975, there were a million microwaves sold annually in the United States. Today, 90% of American homes have a microwave. Microwave sales have actually gone down in recent years. They hit their peak in 2004.
According to the Chicago-based Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, 5.9 million microwave ovens were shipped in 1983. By 1985 that figure had nearly doubled, to 10.9 million.
Summary. Amana's Radarange, introduced in 1967, was the first compact microwave oven made for home use. By 1975, when Ed and Flo Harper bought this Radarange as a family Christmas gift, sales of microwave ovens outpaced gas ovens for the first time.
Over 5 million microwave ovens have been sold in Australia, and approximately 77 per cent of Australian homes contain one.
Microwave ovens have been adopted by Australian households with remarkable speed.
The GE ME710 was the first microwave oven made in Australia. Production began in 1984, but it ceased in 1985 as it could not compete with imports.
If you've looked after it well, there's no reason why a vintage microwave should be dangerous. However, it is possible that the screen or rubber seals around the door may have perished, allowing some radiation to leak out. For peace of mind, buy a microwave leakage tester.
When first introduced in the 1950s, microwave ovens were promoted as the wave of the future, the latest in modern electrical cooking. By 2000, microwaves were found in 90 percent of U.S. households.
Perhaps microwave technology hasn't evolved as dramatically to offer features so unique that brands will advertise. Whatever the reason, it's clear that marketers have the research to suggest a microwave ad spend isn't going to yield results.
Panasonic microwave, circa 1984
As microwaves competed for homemakers' hearts, Panasonic introduced their "genius" series, with automatic sensors to make sure you didn't overcook the pork.
The first models were huge—about 6 feet in height and weighing more than 750 pounds. After World War II, when wartime technologies were adapted for domestic purposes, the ovens became smaller and more suitable for homes.
Take a look around your home — 100 years ago, there were no fridges, or microwaves, or hairdryers, and very rarely did someone have a bathroom, let alone two or three. Your medicine cabinet wouldn't be filled with Advil or Tylenol, but over-the-counter heroin or mercury.
Today, more than 90 percent of U.S. households own a microwave oven.
Before the microwave oven, it took forever to reheat food or boil water. If the food is something liquid-y, then you would put in back into a pot with a little added water and reheat on the stove burner. If the food is something crispy or dry, you would reheat it in the oven.
Some recent improvements to microwave ovens may make you consider whether you want an old vs new microwave. However, newer models provide various advantages over older devices, especially in reducing power consumption and cooking time.
When was the microwave first used in homes? In 1947, Raytheon released the “Radarange,” the first commercially available microwave oven. According to Raytheon, they cost between $2,000 and $3,000 and were stored in refrigerator-sized cabinets.
Early Use of the Microwave
Before microwave ovens came the discovery of the microwave. Bell Labs, General Electric, and RCA independently experimented with cooking food with radio waves in the early 1900s. However, no commercial cooking product developed during this time.
With normal usage for an average family and good maintenance, a microwave often lasts for 7 to 8 years. If the microwave is used less frequently by a single person or a couple and is well-maintained, the lifespan can increase to up to 10 years.