Amana commercial microwave ovens are smart, sturdy, and perfect for any industrial cooking establishment.
From its beginnings, Amana has been committed to “putting the ability in afford-ability.” The Amana Corporation was founded in 1934 by George Foerstner in Middle Amana, Iowa. Formerly known as The Electrical Equipment Co., the manufacturer was focused on commercial walk-in coolers and is also the company we can thank for producing the first consumer friendly microwave oven – which many believe shaped the history of cooking in America. Today, Amana has a versatile series of simple yet reliable commercial microwaves ideal for restaurants and institutions who require a powerful cooking machine for their kitchen.
As with many brands, Amana creates and sells equipment to cover affordable applications around the home and commercial kitchen. But Amana goes beyond the price tag and probes into what’s really going on behind the nuts and bolts. Exploring environmentally conscious production methods and working toward energy-efficient high standards are just a few of the small steps they take to lower the carbon footprint of everyone involved. Save money, save energy, and do your part to help save the planet by choosing Amana.
Continue reading below for more about the history of Amana and just how the first microwave oven was invented.
Shop By Category
Playlist
More About Amana
Amana has a rich history of innovation. Amana Commercial is part of the ACP, Inc manufacturing family and is one of the most highly recognized and respected brands in the industrial cooking world. Part of its rich history involves the introduction of many household and commercial appliances we all use every day – including the countertop microwave oven. So, did Amana invent the microwave? Not quite – but the company can be thanked for making cooking by microwaves an accessible form of cooking for both the home and food-service establishments.
During World War II, Dr. Percy LeBaron Spencer was an engineer studying radars by using magnetrons. A magnetron is a device made up of vacuum tubes that produce microwave radiation and were used in radar at the time. Spencer was busy working when he discovered the candy bar in his pocket had melted. He couldn’t figure out why and, like any engineer, had to figure it out.
Spencer finally discovered that it was the microwaves he was experimenting with that melted his candy bar. Further experiments revealed that microwaves would not only melt a candy bar, but that they could cook food – and cook it much faster than convection cooking. Dr. Spencer was working for Raytheon Corporation, who was so delighted with his discovery that they launched it to the next level and manufactured the first commercial microwave, the 1161 Radarange. The 1161 Radarange was a massive 1600W machine. Much too big for any home and most restaurants (this thing was over 6 feet tall and weighed 800 pounds!).
By 1967, Amana became part of the Raytheon Corporation and realized the need for a consumer-friendly microwave oven. So, Amana created the first domestic microwave oven, called it the Radarange®, and the rest is history. Because home cooks had been using convection ovens, the microwave oven changed American cooking forever and we have Amana to thank for making it available to all restaurants and households.
