Who Invented the Microwave?

The microwave oven wasn’t created in a kitchen—it was discovered in a lab… completely by accident.

In 1945, an engineer named Percy Spencer was working for Raytheon, testing radar equipment during World War II. While standing near an active radar device, he noticed something strange—a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted.

Curious, Spencer began experimenting. He placed popcorn kernels near the machine—and they popped. Then he tried an egg… which quickly exploded!

Realizing that microwave radiation could heat food quickly, Spencer helped develop the first microwave oven. But it wasn’t exactly kitchen-friendly. The original machine, called the “Radarange,” was over 6 feet tall, weighed hundreds of pounds, and was mainly used in restaurants and ships.

It wasn’t until the 1960s and 70s that smaller, affordable versions made their way into homes—forever changing how we cook and reheat food.

🍿 Fun Fact:

The very first food intentionally cooked in a microwave? Popcorn!