Roberto A. Ferdman writes that the era of microwaves is coming to an end:

• The first microwave was sold soon after 1945. It weighed over 320 kilograms and cost $3,000. It was meant for ships, trains and restaurants.
• The more familiar tabletop microwave wasn’t developed until 1967.
• Sales skyrocketed. The microwave is responsible for the creation of entire industries including the frozen dinner market, and the market for microwaveable popcorn.
• However since then microwave sales have tapered. This is in part because of their market saturation – every home already has one.
• But it’s also because people have become more health conscious and have come to favour freshly made food over microwaveable fare.
• The microwave might also be too much effort. While sales of microwaveable popcorn have dipped, sales of ready-made popcorn have climbed.
• There’s been an explosion of interest in haute cuisine, and food made in slow cookers, crock pots and griddles.

Read more about the history of the microwave, how it was invented by mistake, and what this all means for the future of the microwave here.

Source: Quartz