Thirty-four. That's how many home microwave ovens Tappan built in 1955, the very first year of production. 🍳 The RL-1 carried a $1,295 price tag, easily exceeding $10,000 in today's dollars. It required installation inside a wall and a 220-volt connection, while many shoppers were still wondering how they would actually use it. Each generation that followed left a little less work for the cook. Amana's 1967 Radarange reached the countertop, running from a standard household outlet and selling for $495. ⚡ Sharp's Carousel rotated the plate throughout cooking, saving owners from pausing midway to turn their dishes themselves. 🔄 By 1975, microwaves outsold gas ranges in America, while Amana's Touchmatic replaced rotary dials with a keypad and glowing display. Eventually, the cook could simply speak. 🎙️ The $59.99 AmazonBasics microwave arrived in 2018, accepting commands through Alexa and even automatically ordering more popcorn when supplies ran low. 🍿 Now the wan AIChef Ultra promises another step: according to its maker, an internal camera follows the food as it cooks, while the appliance sets the cooking time and heat automatically. #AmericanKitchen #MicrowaveHistory #VintageAppliances #AmanaRadarange #RetroKitchen