How to Choose the Best Commercial Cotton Candy Machine for Your Venue
Guide to Choosing the Best Cotton Candy Machine
Commercial cotton candy machines are used in a wide variety of settings, from stadiums and schools to grocery stores and party rental businesses. Each of thse venues has different requirements, which means there's no one-size-fits-all solution.
Choosing the right cotton candy machine comes down to identifying the features that best match the needs of your specific location. Use this buyer's guide to find the equipment that's best suited for your venue.
Find the Right Machine for Your Venue Size
When choosing a cotton candy machine, it's important to consider the unique priorities and demands of your venue. Smaller locations may value simplicity and ease of use, while larger venues require machines that can keep up with high-volume demand. Explore what small, medium, and large venues should consider when shopping for a machine.
Small to Medium Venues
Smaller-sized venues typically focus on these three areas:
- Portability – convenient size and mobility
- Easy-to-Clean – no tools required
- Simple Operation – straightforward instructions
Large Venues
Large venues are focused on volume, dependability, and efficiency:
- Robustly Manufactured – heavy duty motor, durable construction
- High Production Capacity – able to produce high volumes of floss in short amount of time
- Advanced Controls – gives operator the capability to adjust voltage, temperature, etc.
Read this helpful checklist for a more in-depth look at the questions you should ask yourself before purchasing a cotton candy machine.
Ribbon vs. Tubular: Which Heating Element is Right for You?
Commercial cotton candy machines use either a ribbon-style or tubular heating element. While the difference may not be obvious at first, it can have a big impact on performance and ease of use. So, what does this mean for the operator? Let's break down the key characteristics of each.
Ribbon Style Heat Element
- Heats immediately
- Very responsive heat adjustments
- Cools down very quickly
- Can be damaged more easily
- Great choice for owner/operator or experienced professional staff
Tubular Style Heat Element
- Slightly longer heat up time
- Slower to react to heat adjustments
- Gradual cool down
- Almost indestructible, easy to maintain
- Excellent choice for rentals, multiple operators, volunteers, or first-timers
Best Cotton Candy Machine for Single-Serve Use
Whether small or large in venue, if you want to make single servings of cotton candy and have the ability to switch flavors easily, the QuickSpin® is the right machine for you. Designed for efficiency and flexibility, the unique QuickStart and QuickCool technologies work together to maximize performance. In addition, the floss streams from the center of the floss head, which makes it great for creating cotton candy art.
Top venues for the QuickSpin cotton candy machine include:
- Carnivals and Fairs
- Stadiums and Arenas
- Tourist Attractions
- Party Rental Stores
- Catered Events
Best Cotton Candy Machine for Smaller Volume Venues
In small or medium-sized venues, we recommend a standard cotton candy machine. One of our most popular and best-value models is the Auto Breeze® EZ Kleen Head (#3052-00-001). It comes with a long list of standard features, plus beneficial additions like UL Sanitation Listing, a snap-in-place floss head (no tools required), and molded rubber floaters that provide an improved, thicker grip area.
The Auto Breeze is perfect for venues like:
- Party Rental Stores
- Schools
- Parks
- Grocery Stores
- Family Fun Centers
Want more choices? Gold Medal has a variety of options for smaller-volume venues. Shop our complete line of small / medium cotton candy machines.
Best Cotton Candy Machine for Large Venues
Large, high-volume venues can maximize cotton candy production with the Stainless Steel Deluxe Whirlwind®(#3008SS). This cotton candy maker can create up to 5-6 servings per minute with a 1/3 hp heavy duty motor. It features a voltage boost transformer and volt-meter to allow for power differentials. Plus, the stainless-steel cabinet will hold up to wear and tear.
This is one of the best commercial cotton candy machines for:
- Amusement Parks
- Movie Theaters
- Stadiums
- Colleges and Universities
- Carnival and Fair Concession Stands
Interested in exploring more options? View all cotton candy machines for large venues.
Making the Right Choice
Choosing the right cotton candy machine comes down to understanding your venue's unique needs and matching them with the right features. From production capacity to heating element style, each factor plays an important role in performance, ease of use, and efficiency. By taking the time to weigh these considerations, you'll be able to invest in equipment that not only meets your current demands but also supports long-term success.
If you’d like to make cotton candy one of your best-sellers, we invite you to read these helpful tips in our blog.