Cotton Candy Maker
Do you know of someone who has never tried or even heard of the scrumptious cotton candy? The ones you usually see in the carnivals, amusement parks, circuses, funfairs, and the like? Probably not! Most, if not all, kids get attracted when they see a cotton candy maker nearby especially when there are packed colorful cotton candies hung on the sides of the stall for sale. You may have memories of yourself and your experience with cotton candy. Maybe you forced your mom or dad into buying one for you and when they said no or next time, you would throw a temper tantrum in front of a crowd until they decide to give in to your desire. Now that’s a cracker! Memories like these are precious and can bring a smile to your face. Oh, childhood experiences.. full of your most fondest memories.
Talking about cotton candy, you may wonder where and how this came to be. History doesn’t exactly tell you where it originated but it tells you that it started around the 1900s. It was also originally called fairy floss until it came to be called cotton candy by the 1920s. It doesn’t come in cheap and easily accessible like the ones we have now that you can see a cotton candy maker almost everywhere. In the 1900s, it was considered to be a “noble” or “royalty” food so to speak for the reason that it was expensive and very labor-extensive. If you are just an average person at that time, then you wouldn’t be able to taste such a sweet snack. History doesn’t say how they did it during those times but in 1897, it was a dentist who invented the cotton candy maker. He is by the name William Morrison. After about 80 years from its invention came the automatic cotton candy maker. With this innovation, it made production and sale of the cotton candy easier.
Can I get a cotton candy maker at home?
When you pass by a cotton candy maker, you may be in awe as to how this thing actually works. It looks so easy yet you wonder how cotton candy happens. Well, here’s a simply and short explanation. What you can see on the outside of the machine is the large bowl and the spinning head. There is a small sugar reserve bowl connected to the head and on its ridge, there is a heater that melts the sugar. This melted sugar then gets pushed out through small holes with the use of centrifugal force. This then comes in contact with the outside air (the one we actually breathe) and then it solidifies. This is what you see in the large bowl. When there is already enough, the cotton candy guy then starts to wind a piece of stick or cone and collect the cotton candy. When you try to touch it, it feels like wool. But don’t allow it to stand for a long period of time exposed to air because they will get moist and sticky, then it will harden and lose its glossiness.
Since the invention of the cotton candy maker, and thanks to the brilliant minds of the people, more and more upgrades and enhancements have been made over the years. Cotton candy makers can vary in sizes from a stove top type to a carnival type. Aside from that, from the traditional machine that makes one flavor or color at a time, nowadays, some makers allow you to make more than just one at one time. You can make pink and blue cotton candy at the same time or any color for that matter. The fact is, you can make more than one color in just the same amount of time. From this, you can really see and appreciate the great minds behind these machines.
Cotton candies may be simple to look at and easy to eat. Nowadays, cotton candy made easy is even possible. But don’t take it for granted. No matter what cotton candy maker you choose, cotton candy is still cotton candy. And even with just this, it can bring back a lot of memories. So why spend so much when you can settle for something budget friendly and makes you smile. Cotton candy is not only for the young but for all ages.