| Frank Dorsa |
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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]
Dorsa was born and raised in San Jose, California. His formal education ended with San Jose High School.[4]
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] Dorsa's younger brothers, Sam,[10] and Anthony (Antonino),[11] handled sales and deliveries.
In 1938, they acquired the Santa Clara, California Garden City Potato Chip factory,[12] making Eggo potato chips. For the potato chip factory, Dorsa developed a continuous potato peeler.[13] Eggo expanded, to include salad dressings, noodles, and pretzels.[6]
Frank invented a fryer that wouldn't curl bacon.[14]
In 1953, Frank invented a carousel-motor-powered machine that would cook waffles and then freeze them.[14] [6] [15] Dorsa named the product Eggo frozen waffle.
In 1966, the Dorsas sold Eggo to Fearn Foods Inc.,[14] [16] which was acquired by Kellogg's in 1970.[17]
Frank Dorsa married Evelyn Mary Denevan in 1938. They had three sons, Frank Jr., Stanley and Richard.[18] [19]