Buy: Microwave

: Introduced in 1947 , these first models were over five feet tall and cost roughly $5,000 (equivalent to about $48,000–$88,000 today). Due to their size and price, they were initially indispensable only to restaurants .

The history of buying a microwave begins with a happy accident in , when engineer Percy Spencer was working on military radar technology for Raytheon Laboratories . While standing near an active magnetron—the core component that emits radar signals—he noticed a chocolate bar in his pocket had completely melted. buy microwave

Instead of being annoyed, Spencer was fascinated. He began experimenting with other foods, watching popcorn kernels pop and an egg dramatically explode. This led to the birth of the first commercial microwave: : Introduced in 1947 , these first models

: It wasn't until the 1970s that designs became compact and affordable enough for the average home. By 1997 , nine out of every ten American homes owned one. While standing near an active magnetron—the core component