As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
When Was the Commercial Microwave Invented?
When Was the Commercial Microwave Invented? The first true commercial microwave oven was introduced in 1954 by Raytheon under the brand name Radarange. The model 1161 (also called “Mark V”) became the world’s first microwave designed specifically for restaurants, priced at $4,995 ($60,000 in 2025 dollars) and weighing 750 lbs.
Timeline of Commercial Microwave Development
| Year | Milestone | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1945–1946 | Accidental discovery | Percy Spencer (Raytheon) notices melting chocolate bar near magnetron |
| 1947 | First prototype microwave (Radarange) | 5 ft 9 in tall, 1.8 kW, water-cooled, for lab/testing use only |
| **1954 | First commercial model released | Raytheon Radarange 1161 – sold to restaurants, hotels, and cruise ships |
| 1955 | First restaurant installation | Boston & Maine Railroad dining car (tested 1954, public use 1955) |
| 1965 | Tappan introduces first “affordable” commercial unit | $2,995 (still huge) |
| 1967 | Amana (Raytheon subsidiary) launches RR-1 countertop model | 1,000 W, $2,000 – first practical restaurant countertop unit |
| 1971 | Litton Industries introduces compact 1,600 W models | Begins rapid adoption in QSRs |
| 1980s | Prices drop below $1,000; widespread use in fast food | McDonald’s, hospitals, and schools adopt heavily |
The 1954 Raytheon Radarange 1161 – The True First Commercial Microwave
- Power: 1,600–1,800 watts (more than most modern heavy-duty units)
- Size: 5.5 ft tall × 5 ft wide × 3 ft deep
- Weight: ~750 lbs (340 kg)
- Cooling: Water-cooled magnetron (required plumbing)
- Price: $4,995 in 1954 ≈ $59,800 in 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator)
- First buyers: Hotels (Statler chain), ocean liners (SS America), and railroads
“The first commercial Radarange was installed in a restaurant kitchen in early 1954… it could heat a potato in 20 seconds.”
— Raytheon Company Historical Archives, 1955
Early Adoption Statistics
- By 1958: Fewer than 200 units Radaranges installed worldwide
- By 1967: ~2,500 commercial units in the U.S.
- By 1975: Over 50,000 commercial microwaves in foodservice (Foodservice Equipment Reports)
- 1980: McDonald’s begins chain-wide rollout after testing Amana units
Key Companies in Early Commercial Microwave History
| Company | Year of First Commercial Model | Notable Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Raytheon | 1954 | Invented and sold first Radarange |
| Tappan | 1965 | First under-$3,000 model |
| Amana (owned by Raytheon) | 1967 | First practical countertop commercial unit (RR-1) |
| Litton | 1971 | Introduced stackable, high-volume models |
| Sharp (Japan) | 1973 | Began exporting medium-duty units to U.S. |
Why It Took 9 Years from Discovery to Commercial Sale (1945–1954)
- Magnetrons were huge and expensive (war surplus)
- No compact high-voltage power supplies existed
- Safety concerns over radiation leakage
- Restaurants had no 220 V / 30 A circuits
- FDA and FCC had no microwave emission standards until 1950s
Read the original 1945 Percy Spencer patent here: U.S. Patent 2,495,429 – Method of Treating Foodstuffs
FAQ About the Invention of Commercial Microwaves
Q: Was the 1947 Radarange considered “commercial”?
A: No. It was a prototype sold only for testing, not listed for restaurant use.
Q: Who bought the very first production commercial microwave?
A: The Statler Hotel in Boston and the SS America cruise ship in 1954.
Q: When did fast-food restaurants start using microwaves?
A: Widespread adoption began in the mid-1970s; McDonald’s tested Amana units in 1972–1974 before national rollout in 1980.
Q: Is the Amana Radarange RR-1 (1967) considered the first “modern” commercial microwave?
A: Yes. It was countertop, air-cooled, and under 200 lbs—making it the first truly practical unit for most kitchens.
Q: Are any 1954 Radaranges still in existence?
A: Yes. One is displayed at the Smithsonian Institution.
Final Thoughts
The commercial microwave was born in 1954 with Raytheon’s monumental (and monumentally expensive) Radarange 1161. It took another 13 years before technology and price allowed widespread restaurant adoption in 1967. Today’s $800 heavy-duty units owe their existence to those early water-cooled behemoths that proved microwaves could survive the brutal pace of professional kitchens.
For deeper historical reading:
