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.
In 1980, 20 percent of American households owned a microwave. By 1986, that figure had tripled. And by 1990, experts predict eight in 10 households will own one.
In the UK they also took off in the 1970s thanks to the rise of ready-meals - today 56% of us are still using microwaves to heat up our ready-made meals. By the 1990s over 50% of households in the UK owned a microwave. Today 80% of us have one in our home.
The first commercial use of a microwave oven was in 1946 in a Boston restaurant to test its effectiveness. In 1947, commercial microwave ovens became available to purchase. Early microwaves were like giants compared to modern compact microwaves, as they were 5.5 feet tall and weighed over 750 pounds.
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.
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?
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.
In 1980, according to Litton, the mean retail price of a microwave oven was $425. Today, while the range of prices is about $149 to $549, the mean has dropped to about $280.
On August 30, 2005, when China Arnold and her children lived with her boyfriend, Terrell Talley, in a housing complex in Dayton, Ohio, there was an argument over Paris's paternity. They got in a fight and her anger turned into violence, after which 28-day-old Paris was placed in a microwave for two minutes.
In the October issue of General Electric News, it was estimated American families would buy 675,000 countertop microwave ovens during the last three months of 1976, at an average price of $370.
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.
Microwave – It's extremely rare to find an American home without one, and while most British homes have one now, it took a lot longer before they were a household staple in the UK. They also tend to be larger and more powerful in the US.
Also available were microwave ovens, ranging in price from $189.95 to $439.95. Of course, there's been a good deal of dollar inflation since 1975. Judged by changes in the consumer-price index, what $100 bought in 1975 takes about $354 to buy today.
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.
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.
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.
Plastic, including Tupperware
Single-use plastics like those used for yogurt, cottage cheese and other foods should never be microwaved. The same rule applies to plastic to-go containers that don't clearly state that it is microwave-safe. Similarly, do not use cracked, old or discolored plastic containers.
Anything with Metal or Stainless Steel
Plates with shiny metal rims and stainless-steel travel mugs can also cause a fire if put inside a microwave.
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.
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.
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.
On October 25, 1955, Tappan Stove Company sold the first domestic microwave oven, a large, 220V wall unit priced at $1295.
This compact cavity magnetron gave the Allies a way of producing high-power microwaves for radar. By the summer of 1940, World War II had been raging in Western Europe for nearly a year. During the Battle of Britain, German aircraft bombed London and industrial centers and blockaded seaports.
In the 1960s, Litton Company developed a new configuration of the microwave: the short, wide shape that is now common, with a magnetron feed that could survive a no-load condition (when there is nothing in the oven to absorb microwaves) which made microwave oven safer.
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.