This article is the second in a continuing series of general interest papers on the applications of microwaves in areas of science and technology that might not be appreciated by the traditional engineer. What more appropriate application could there be than the first wide-spread commercial use of microwaves for food preparation. The development, use, and evolution (or lack of) of the microwave oven is the subject of this month's "Microwaves Are Everywhere."INDEX TERMS Microwave ovens, microwave heating, magnetrons, metamaterials, commercial applications of microwaves.This article has been accepted for inclusion in a future issue of this journal. Content is final as presented, with the exception of pagination.