Frank Dorsa

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Frank Joseph Dorsa (August 18, 1907 – January 17, 1996) was an American inventor best known for creating the Eggo frozen waffle. He was born and raised in San Jose, California, and attended San Jose High School. After graduation, he worked as a machinist and then started a business with his brothers Sam and Antonino, making and selling food-related products.

In 1932 the Dorsa brothers developed Eggo Mayonnaise, using fresh eggs and refined oil. They later moved into waffle batter products, including a dry waffle mix that only required milk. They expanded into potato chips after buying the Garden City Potato Chip factory in Santa Clara in 1938, and Frank invented a continuous potato peeler for the plant. He also invented a fryer that wouldn’t curl bacon.

In 1953 they built a carousel-based machine that could cook waffles and then freeze them, leading to the Eggo frozen waffle. The Dorsas sold Eggo to Fearn Foods in 1966, and Kellogg’s bought it in 1970.

Frank married Evelyn Mary Denevan in 1938, and they had three sons: Frank Jr., Stanley, and Richard. He died in 1996 at the age of 88.