When did microwave popcorn come out?

Answer 1

In 1981, General Mills introduced the first microwave popcorn under their Pillsbury brand. This popcorn needed to be stored in the freezer prior to popping. Later that year, the engineer that worked on the Pillsbury popcorn project, James Watkins, left General Mills and started his own company called the Golden Valley Microwave Foods company. He introduced his own microwave popcorn called Act I. After he figured out how to make the popcorn and oils shelf stable, he patented his new microwave popcorn invention and re-released it as Act II in 1984.

Answer 2

Percy L. Spencer holds patent (US) 2480679 from 1949 on microwave popcorn. Unfortunately, with microwave ovens having different temperatures throughout the inside of the oven, some kernels would pop, others would not, and many would burn. It wasn't until much later that microwave popcorn became something that could be sold commercially.

In 1981, General Mills introduced the first commercially available microwave popcorn under their Pillsbury brand. This popcorn needed to be stored in the freezer prior to popping. Later that year, the engineer that worked on the Pillsbury popcorn project, James Watkins, left General Mills and started his own company called the Golden Valley Microwave Foods company. He introduced his own microwave popcorn called Act I. After he figured out how to make the popcorn and oils shelf stable, he patented his new microwave popcorn invention and re-released it as Act II in 1984.

Answer 3

In 1981, General Mills introduced the first commercially available microwave popcorn under their Pillsbury brand. This popcorn needed to be stored in the freezer prior to popping. Later that year, the engineer that worked on the Pillsbury popcorn project, James Watkins, left General Mills and started his own company called the Golden Valley Microwave Foods company. He introduced his own microwave popcorn called Act I. After he figured out how to make the popcorn and oils shelf stable, he patented his new microwave popcorn invention and re-released it as Act II in 1984.