Best Cotton Candy Machine

1. The Candery Cotton Candy Machine
2. Nostalgia PCM805RETRORED Retro Hard & Sugar Free Cotton Candy Maker
3. 6315 Great Northern Popcorn Flufftastic Cotton Candy Machine Floss Maker with Cart

Whether you are a kid or a kid at heart, it is safe to say that almost everyone loves cotton candy. With our help by the end of today, you are going to be able to choose the best cotton candy machine for home or commercial use to suit both your preferences and taste buds.

It is not easy finding the right machine due to the sheer number of options available on the market, but we have made it as easy as possible for you by performing countless hours worth of research to ensure that we can provide you with the best options on the market.

Whether you want to do comparison shopping or make a quick decision using our top 3 list for an option that is guaranteed to satisfy, we have what you need to achieve a result either way. Read on for everything you should know. There is no need to go anywhere else.

What Is a Cotton Candy Machine?

As the name implies, a cotton candy machine will allow you to enjoy cotton candy anytime without you having to go to the fair to get your hands on this well-loved and delicious treat. They are designed for use in either home or commercial settings.

If you have fond memories of getting huge balls of cotton candy every time you went to the fair as a child, then you are going to love being able to recreate them any time you wish at home for your own enjoyment or to share with your child.

There are a wide variety of designs at your disposal. All will allow you to create roughly three servings every sixty seconds with some of the most premium models offering additional features to further enhance your cotton candy experience.

There is a model to suit any use and occasion whether it is for a birthday party for your child, recreational home use for enjoying a sweet treat anytime you like, or even as part of a commercial setting to sell cotton candy in a shop.

Regardless of your intended use, the wide array of models out there will definitely accommodate your needs with varying degrees of efficiency depending on the exact product you decide to buy. There are, however, a lot of factors that must be considered if you want optimal use.

In the next section, we will provide you with a full breakdown of what exactly goes into making the market leading cotton candy machines out there so that you know how to stack one product up against the other when comparison shopping.

How to Pick the Right Cotton Candy Machine

In this section, we are going to present you with all of the key features to consider when comparison shopping for a home or commercial cotton candy machine. By reviewing them all, you will be sure to get a product that is going to meet your exact satisfaction requirements. The key areas to consider when it comes to finding an effective cotton candy machine are as follows.

Drum Сapacity

The capacity of the “drum” or bowl included with your machine is an important area to think about because it ultimately determines how much cotton candy you will be able to produce at once.

This can really make all the difference when using the machine because in a fast-paced commercial or large party setting for instance, it is crucial that you can produce enough to keep up with the demand. Equally, you will need much smaller quantities for casual home use.

Unit Size

There are various different sizes available with cotton candy machines, and there is no set criteria for what the right size is for one of these machines. Instead, you should think about the purpose you intend to use the machine for. If you are going to be selling cotton candy, then it only makes sense that you will need something as large as possible, which will also be highly visible to attract attention.

On the other hand, a home-based machine should ideally be compact and easy to place on the counter in your kitchen. Select a unit that you think is going to be the right size to effectively work with its surroundings and intended purpose.

Production Speed

You might not necessarily need to produce cotton candy at high velocity if you are only using a machine like this for home use when you feel like having a treat, but if you are planning to buy a machine for commercial or retail use, then speed becomes a crucial factor.

The speed of your machine will dictate how many servings of cotton candy you are able to produce per minute. Home-based options offer roughly three servings per sixty seconds with the quantity rapidly increasing from there depending on your chosen model.

Durability

There are a varied selection of cotton candy machine products out there featuring a wide array of construction materials, but the most common are metal and plastic or some combination of the two. Metal is clearly going to last for longer than plastic, but this does not mean that you actually need it.

Consider how much use your machine will be getting and where it will be placed. Any machine placed in a high-traffic area and used frequently for instance is going to need to be more hard wearing than something that is being used at home.

How Easy Is It to Clean?

Let’s face it, there would be nothing worse than a cotton candy machine that was difficult to clean due to the sticky nature of the candy itself. Things are always going to get messy when you use one, but this aspect can become really stress-free if the product is well designed.

Try to buy a unit made out of easy-to-wipe materials and detachable sections to allow for a super quick and easy cleaning and maintenance process. This will save countless hours of stress.

Is It Safe?

Although this might not be the first element you would think about when buying a machine like this, consider that you might be making cotton candy around crowds of children. If this is the case, it is imperative that the design be as safe as possible.

Analyze your chosen model very carefully to ensure that there are not any openings or crevices where children could place their hands and either injure them through becoming trapped or touch exposed electrical components. Safety is an absolute must.

Style

Though you might not necessarily need the coolest looking cotton candy machine in the neighbourhood if you are planning to use your product for commercial or retail purposes, this becomes an important area to consider if you are going to be using it at home.

There are so many design variations available out there, and some of them are seriously fun, colorful, and engaging due to additional features like transparent tops that let you watch the candy being made. If you are using it with your children, it is always worth looking out for an eye-catching design!

Brands

It can prove highly beneficial to purchase an item from a trusted manufacturer if you want to guarantee optimum quality with your product due to it already being determined to have a high standard of satisfaction by thousands of people.

The following brands are all producing some of the best cotton candy machines currently available on the market.

  • Nostalgia
  • Vivo
  • Paragon
  • Great Northern Popcorn Company
  • American Girl
  • Chef Buddy
  • Jelly Belly
  • Superior Popcorn Company

Any product purchased from the above list of manufacturers will offer a high level of quality and satisfaction.

Top 3 Best Cotton Candy Machines

In this section, we are going to present you with the three best cotton candy machine options available on the market to ensure that you do not have to spend hours performing lengthy comparison shopping.

It is worth noting that even though every item on this list has been featured because it is particularly strong in a certain area, they are all actually great all-round options that will not disappoint you. Without further discussion, here are what we believe are the three market-leading options.

1. Our Pick: The Candery Cotton Candy Machine

the candery cotton candy machine - best cotton candy machine

Features:

  • Fun for all ages
  • Comes with a guarantee
  • Includes several accessories
  • Works within a few minutes

If you want a super easy-to-use, guarantee-backed cotton candy machine that delivers delicious cotton candy within minutes straight out of the box, then this offering from The Candery will prove to be the best option for you. The product comes as an all-in-one kit offering all the attachments and extra utensils needed to be able to create and eat your cotton candy without the need to purchase any additional extras. The fun design will definitely please kids and adults alike.

Pros

Pros

  • Transparent lid that makes it a great centrepiece
  • Can use any type of candy
  • Really easy to use straight out of the box
  • Additional accessories that make it great value

Cons

Cons

  • Only one style variety
  • Plastic housing might be susceptible to damage

The lid is transparent, meaning that you can watch the cotton candy being made, which is great for use as a centrepiece. It will work with floss as well as hard candies for a wide variety of different flavors. All in all, it is a great and accessible machine that delivers the goods in every area from functionality to looks and taste thanks to the different candy options you can make use of. It is a winner all round.

Public Review Summary: This machine has a very cute and great looking design. It is high quality and solid, and it does not look cheap. It runs smoothly without vibrations and can make different types of cotton candy. But some customers admit that it can malfunction under certain conditions and make quite a big mess in the kitchen.

2. Best for Home Use: Nostalgia PCM805RETRORED Retro Hard & Sugar Free Cotton Candy Maker

nostalgia pcm805retrored retro hard & sugar free cotton candy maker - best cotton candy machine

Features:

  • Simple operation
  • Includes several accessories
  • Easy cleaning
  • Available in a variety of colors

This super cool retro-looking cotton candy maker is ideal for home use whether it is for the casual enjoyment of cotton candy for a sugar fix whenever you feel like it or as a centrepiece for a home party. What is great about the design of this product is that it has a transparent lid so that you can actually see the cotton candy being made. This makes it a perfect focal point for kids’ parties, and the easy-to-use design will mean that your little ones can have a go at using it themselves.

Pros

Pros

  • Really stylish looking
  • Transparent cover that makes for a visual spectacle that kids will love
  • Compact enough to store neatly away
  • Option to use hard candy or floss makes for lots of taste variety

Cons

Cons

  • Not as powerful as some other options
  • Design will not suit all indoor settings

There are three different color choices available for a little variety, and you can even use either hard candy or flossing sugar to ensure that all tastes are catered to. This means that pretty much any type of cotton candy flavor is possible. There are some additional accessories included to fully round out the tasty and fun experience, and the product design is both totally safe and easy to clean.

Public Review Summary: This machine works great with cotton candy floss sugar, but it also does well with hard candies. It takes just 10–15 minutes to make sweet and tasty cotton candy. The machine is easy to set up and use, and cleanup is a snap. On the other hand, sometimes it can arrive already used, so check over it carefully. Additionally, some found that it did not last as long as expected.

3. Best Premium: 6315 Great Northern Popcorn Flufftastic Cotton Candy Machine Floss Maker with Cart

6315 great northern popcorn flufftastic cotton candy machine floss maker with cart - best cotton candy machine

Features:

  • Simple to use after construction
  • Includes 6 hard plastic candy cones
  • Integrated 21″ stainless steel pan
  • Produces 2 cones per minute

If you are looking for the ultimate cotton candy machine to create a visual spectacle or deliver high-performance results in a retail setting, then this is absolutely going to be the right product for you given its striking robust design and high level of functionality. You can either opt for a tabletop version of this high-quality cotton candy maker or a unit complete with a fully integrated cart. This makes it perfect for home and retail use and indoors and even out and about at fairs if you want to operate a stall.

Pros

Pros

  • Easy to assemble considering the size
  • Model variants mean that it can be used anywhere
  • Perfect as a centrepiece for any occasion
  • Included one-year warranty guarantees peace of mind

Cons

Cons

  • Much more expensive than many other machines
  • Only comes in one color

It is especially easy to use, and the product housing is solid metal, making it incredibly durable for years of reliable use. The unit is large enough to make it a centrepiece for any occasion. Potential customers will see it from afar, and it could even be rolled out as a great addition to a party function. Plus, it is easy to clean and features plenty of storage space for added practicality.

Public Review Summary: It makes cotton candy quickly, looks so adorable, and creates a tasty treat. Great quality and simple operation are pros of this machine. If we take a look at the downsides, a few report that this machine can start sparking after a couple of uses and stop heating, so watch out

How to Use a Cotton Candy Machine and Make Cotton Candy

We are going to tell you exactly how to use one of these machines so that you can start to make delicious cotton candy as soon as your new item arrives. They might seem a little confusing at first, but after setting them up, they are actually incredibly easy and intuitive to use. Here are the steps for using a cotton candy machine.

#1 – Read the instructions thoroughly

This is the most important part as every machine is completely different. Before you start trying to piece anything together, make sure that you have extensively read through the included manual to be certain that everything goes into the correct place safely and effectively.

#2 – Clean every component

As you begin to construct your machine, ensure that you thoroughly clean each individual component. Since you are going to be using this product to make edible items, it only makes sense to clean away harmful bacteria that could be lingering in the unit housing.

#3 – Plug the machine in and allow it to warm up

Once you are satisfied that your machine has been safely set up, proceed to plug it into an electrical socket, and allow it to warm up to the correct temperature by switching it on. Most machines will have an indicator to tell you when they are at the right heat.

#4 – Place your sugar or candy into the candy compartment

Make sure that you only use a candy or sugar type that is completely compatible with your chosen machine. Proceed to place it into the designated candy compartment, where it will begin to melt down and get distributed into the main bowl.

#5 – Grab a cone and start to gather your cotton candy

Holding the pointed end of your cone, slowly lower it into the main bowl, where you will immediately begin to see cotton candy starting to accumulate. Wait until you have filled the cone with an adequate quantity, and lift it out of the bowl ready to serve. The above five steps will lead you straight to cotton candy heaven!

Best Cotton Candy Machine FAQ

There are often lots of questions that people have about cotton candy machines prior to making a purchase. We will now list the five most common queries that prospective buyers have in a bid to alleviate any confusion or reservations you might have about purchasing one of these machines.

Is it possible to make sugar-free cotton candy?

Yes! It absolutely is. You can make sugar-free cotton candy simply by using low-sugar or sugar-free varieties of the floss or hard candy that you would use to create typical cotton candy.

How much cotton candy can a machine make at once?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer for this question unfortunately. How much candy will be produced is going to depend entirely on your chosen machine model and its power. Always read the manufacturer’s guidelines for the most accurate quantity information.

How long does it take to make cotton candy with a machine?

It all depends on the particular model of machine you have chosen. As a general rule of thumb, most home-use machines can produce roughly two to three servings per 60-second cycle. The most premium models are capable of significantly more.

Is it possible to use regular sugar with a cotton candy machine?

Yes, it might be. It all depends on the model of machine you have purchased. Check the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure that this is possible before you decide to try and add regular sugar into the mechanism.

What is the difference between a normal vs commercial cotton candy machine?

Typically, commercial machines are more powerful and capable of producing a significantly higher volume of cotton candy per 60-second period compared to normal varieties. They are also much more durable and built for several years of extended daily use. On balance, non-commercial machines are much cheaper and will typically meet the needs of pretty much any home user adequately.

Conclusion

After reading through today’s post, we hope that you now feel completely confident about how to choose an effective cotton candy machine for either residential or commercial use. Although there are lots of models out there, it is safe to say that their functionality all revolves around the same basic principles. Once you understand this, it is then a case of selecting an option that delivers on these principle areas to the highest standards based on your requirements.

With our list of key features, you should easily be able to perform comparison shopping when looking for one of these machines online or in a local store. If in doubt, simply choose any of the items on our top 5 list now, and you will be guaranteed to have years of cotton candy fun.