Frank Dorsa

Frank Joseph Dorsa (August 18, 1907 – January 17, 1996)[1][2] was an American food machinery inventor, best known for the Eggo frozen waffle.[3]

Frank Dorsa
EducationSan Jose High School
Known forEggo frozen waffle

Early life

Dorsa was born and raised in San Jose, California. His formal education ended with San Jose High School.[4]

Career

His first job after graduation was as a machinist at a small company, later bought by Los Gatos-founded FMC Corporation.

In 1932,[5][6] the Dorsa brothers developed a mayonnaise, noted for its use of "100 percent fresh ranch eggs" and "triple refined vegetable oil".[7][8]

After mayonnaise, with an infusion of $50,[4] Dorsa branched out to waffle batter. When the waffle batter popularity exceeded the area to which it could be transported fresh, they developed a dry waffle mix that required only the addition of milk.[9][10] Dorsa's younger brothers, Sam,[11] and Anthony (Antonino),[12] handled sales and deliveries.

In 1938, they acquired the Santa Clara, California Garden City Potato Chip factory,[13] making Eggo potato chips. For the potato chip factory, Dorsa developed a continuous potato peeler.[14] Eggo expanded, to include salad dressings, noodles, and pretzels.[6]

Frank invented a fryer that wouldn't curl bacon.[15]

In 1953, Frank invented a carousel-motor-powered machine that would cook waffles and then freeze them.[15][6][9] Dorsa named the product Eggo frozen waffle.

In 1966, the Dorsas sold Eggo to Fearn Foods Inc.,[15][16] which was acquired by Kellogg's in 1970.[17]

Family

Frank Dorsa married Evelyn Mary Denevan in 1938. They had three sons, Frank Jr., Stanley and Richard.[18][19]

References
  1. "Frank Dorsa, Born 08/18/1907 in California". CaliforniaBirthIndex.org. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  2. "Frank Dorsa". California Room. San Jose Public Library. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  3. "Frank Dorsa, Inventor Of Frozen Waffle". The Seattle Times. 20 January 1996. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  4. "Obituary: Frank Dorsa". The Day (New London). New London, Connecticut. K-R. January 21, 1996. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  5. Stice, Joel (19 June 2020). "The Untold Truth Of Eggo Waffles". Mashed.com. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  6. "Did the Dorsa Brothers Invent Eggo Waffles?". Waffle Maker Center. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  7. "11 Golden Facts About Eggo Waffles". mentalfloss.com. 2017-09-03. Retrieved 2019-07-19.
  8. "Eggo mayonnaise newspaper ad". San Jose News. San Jose, California. April 22, 1940. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  9. "A Brief History of the Frozen Waffle". Epicurious. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 2019-07-19.
  10. Liberman, Sherri (31 August 2011). American Food by the Decades. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-37698-6. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  11. "Sam Dorsa, Born 04/12/1915 in California". CaliforniaBirthIndex.org. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  12. "Antonino Dorsa, Born 11/03/1913 in California". CaliforniaBirthIndex.org. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  13. 1915 San Jose City Directory -. via King Library Digital Collections - San Jose Public Library. Retrieved 21 February 2023. Garden City Potato Chip Co 440 1. Santa Clara.
  14. US 3134413, Dorsa, Frank J.; Palermo, Anthony S. & Leonard, Catalina Edward, "Apparatus for peeling fruits or vegetables", published 1964-05-26, assigned to Eggo Food Products Inc.
  15. "Frank Dorsa, 88, Waffle Developer". The New York Times. 20 January 1996. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  16. "EGGO Trademark of FEARN INTERNATIONAL INC. - Serial Number 72335443". Alter. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  17. "How We Got Here". History. Kellogg's. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  18. "Frank Dorsa, 88, Waffle Developer". The New York Times. 1996-01-20. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  19. "Frank Joseph Dorsa, 17 Jan 1996"; California Death Index, 1940-1997, Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.



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