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Frank Dorsa
EducationSan Jose High School
Known forEggo frozen waffle

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]

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.[citation needed]

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,[citation needed] 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "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 b "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. ^ a b c "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.


External links


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