While the microwave oven was invented in 1945 by Percy Spencer, the concept of microwave meals wasn't a reality until much later. The first commercially available microwave meal, a "TV Dinner" by Swanson, was introduced in 1953. However, these early meals were not specifically designed for the microwave.
It wasn't until the 1970s that microwave-specific packaging and meal preparation techniques became commonplace. Companies like Stouffer's and Lean Cuisine began producing meals specifically designed for microwave heating, leading to the explosion in popularity of microwave meals we see today.
While it's difficult to pinpoint a single inventor, the development of microwave meals was a collaborative effort involving several companies and individuals. The invention of the microwave oven by Percy Spencer laid the foundation, but it was the innovation of packaging, preparation techniques, and the growing popularity of the microwave that truly brought microwave meals to the forefront of modern food consumption.
