Percy Spencer's Serendipitous Discovery
Percy Spencer was tinkering with radar experiments when he got a surprise—a melted chocolate bar in his pocket. This gooey confectionery epiphany got Spencer thinking.
He popped some popcorn kernels nearby, creating a mini fireworks show with kernels flying everywhere. The next day, he tried an egg, which exploded messily in his face.
Spencer's culinary experiments got Raytheon, his employer, excited. They filed for a patent, named their contraption the "Radarange," and commercialized it by 1947. This massive behemoth:
- Stood like a refrigerator
- Weighed 750 pounds
- Cost $5,000 (equivalent to $52,628 in 2015)
At first, the Radarange flopped. Even Spencer's persuasion wasn't enough to fight the public's fear of zappy meal prep. But microwaves soon found their way into kitchens. By the seventies, they had shrunk to countertop size, cooking potatoes in under a minute.
While some places like India still have catching up to do, it's safe to say Percy Spencer's unplanned kitchen caper cooked up something big.
Evolution and Adoption of the Microwave Oven
As the Radarange shrank from godzilla-like proportions to kitchen-friendly size, it was like watching a caterpillar turn into a butterfly. But instead of wings, it had mega-wattages and a knack for reheating pizza.
The price tag needed a serious diet too, shedding numbers faster than a New Year's resolution forgets a diet. Originally priced like a small car, only huge businesses could afford one. Then, by some corporate magic, the cost finally became wallet-friendly.
Even as the size and price shrank, convincing folks these weren't just futuristic gimmicks was another challenge. But when you're whipping up snacks faster than most folks can boil water, the microwave won hearts quicker than a rom-com on Valentine's Day!
The breakthrough came in the 70s. Now micro-sized, these culinary contraptions nosed their way onto countertops like pop stars. By 1975, microwave ovens were outselling gas ranges.
In the '80s, microwaves became the cool kid everyone had to have. Owning one was like joining a club—except by 1986, one in four American households had joined. By '97, nine out of ten U.S. kitchens had a microwave.
Today, 90% of U.S. households embrace the fast-ticking hum of microwave alchemy, treating it less like a crazy science experiment and more like a beloved family member. Percy Spencer? The man still unknowingly rules our kitchens, forever loved for making culinary downtime a thing of the past.
Microwave ovens have become a staple in kitchens, transforming the way we prepare meals with their quick and efficient cooking capabilities. Percy Spencer's accidental discovery led to an invention that revolutionized meal preparation and became an integral part of modern life, making kitchen time more convenient and enjoyable.
Interestingly, Spencer's invention continues to influence technology beyond the kitchen. Different wavelengths of microwaves are now used in weather monitoring, allowing satellites to penetrate clouds, rain, and snow to observe weather conditions1.
In recognition of his groundbreaking invention, Percy Spencer was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999, joining the ranks of other famous inventors like Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers2.
- Spencer R. Interview with Business Insider. 2015.
- National Inventors Hall of Fame. Inductees. 1999.