Microwave oven
In 1947, Raytheon built the "Radarange", the first commercially available microwave oven. It was almost tall, weighed and cost about US$5,000 ($ in dollars) each. It consumed 3 kilowatts, about three times as much as today's microwave ovens, and was water-cooled. The name was the winning entry in an employee contest. An early Radarange was installed (and remains) in the galley of the nuclear-powered passenger/cargo ship NS "Savannah". An early commercial model introduced in 1954 consumed 1.6 kilowatts and sold for US$2,000 to US$3,000 ($ to $ in dollars). Raytheon licensed its technology to the Tappan Stove company of Mansfield, Ohio in 1952. They tried to market a large 220 volt wall unit as a home microwave oven in 1955 for a price of US$1,295 ($ in dollars), but it did not sell well.
Aroma Housewares
In 1977, Peter Chang founded Aroma Housewares in southern California focusing on ovens. By 1981, Chang had expanded to nine locations across San Diego and Los Angeles counties. Aroma introduced their first electric product in 1988, the Aeromatic Turbo Oven. Aroma added rice cookers in 1992 which became their most popular product. Aroma also offered a portable butane burner, ASP-137, for approximately $30.