<P> The development of the cavity magnetron in the UK made possible the production of electromagnetic waves of a small enough wavelength ( microwaves ) . American engineer Percy Spencer is generally credited with inventing the modern microwave oven after World War II from radar technology developed during the war . Named the `` Radarange '' , it was first sold in 1946 . Raytheon later licensed its patents for a home - use microwave oven that was first introduced by Tappan in 1955 , but these units were still too large and expensive for general home use . Sharp Corporation introduced the first microwave oven with a turntable between 1964 and 1966 . The countertop microwave oven was first introduced in 1967 by the Amana Corporation . After Sharp introduced low - cost microwave ovens affordable for residential use in the late 1970s , their use spread into commercial and residential kitchens around the world . In addition to their use in cooking food , types of microwave ovens are used for heating in many industrial processes . </P>
<P> The development of the cavity magnetron in the UK made possible the production of electromagnetic waves of a small enough wavelength ( microwaves ) . American engineer Percy Spencer is generally credited with inventing the modern microwave oven after World War II from radar technology developed during the war . Named the `` Radarange '' , it was first sold in 1946 . Raytheon later licensed its patents for a home - use microwave oven that was first introduced by Tappan in 1955 , but these units were still too large and expensive for general home use . Sharp Corporation introduced the first microwave oven with a turntable between 1964 and 1966 . The countertop microwave oven was first introduced in 1967 by the Amana Corporation . After Sharp introduced low - cost microwave ovens affordable for residential use in the late 1970s , their use spread into commercial and residential kitchens around the world . In addition to their use in cooking food , types of microwave ovens are used for heating in many industrial processes . </P>
when did the microwave become a common household item
when did the microwave become a common household item
the late 1970s
the late 1970s