Tips for Using & Maintaining Your Gold Medal Cotton Candy Machine
For decades, Gold Medal cotton candy supplies and equipment have been used to make the popular, sugary treat at concession stands, fairs, and other events. Gold Medal cotton candy machines are available in more than a dozen styles, but to get the most out of your unit, it's important to follow the recommended guidelines for operation and maintenance.
Gold Medal Cotton Candy Machine Instructions
Before using your Gold Medal cotton candy machine, review the operator's manual for your specific model, which may have been provided with your unit or can be found online. Instructions and operating warnings might vary between models, so the information below should be used as a general reference.
Before starting your cotton candy maker, ensure it can be plugged into a wall outlet with sufficient power supply. All controls should be off before plugging in the machine.
- Install your unit on a level surface. Do not operate the unit if it is sitting on an uneven workspace, and do not use the spinner head to lift the unit.
- Some models have a "Lock-N-Go" handle, which is locked for transport when in the horizontal position. When the handle is turned vertically, the machine can be operated.
- Check the attachment of your floss pan, rubber floats, and floss stabilizer. Your floss stabilizer should only be installed when the unit is off and cool.
- Clean your unit before its first use.
While operating your cotton candy maker, always wear protective glasses. Keep your face and hands clear of the spinner head to prevent injuries.
- Only add sugar when the motor is not running. Cotton candy sugar – use Flossugar or a similar mixture of sugar and flavoring, such as Flossine – can be poured into the spinner head when it is turned off. Fill the spinner head to 90 percent to ensure it remains balanced during operation.
- Turn on the machine's motor and master switch, then wait 10 seconds and activate the machine's heat switch. Gold Medal recommends setting the heat switch to the highest option and reducing the heat when the machine begins producing floss, which should take less than 30 seconds.
- Turn the heat off and allow the floss head to begin cooling before shutting the machine down after use or to add more sugar. If sugar is added before the floss head has cooled, it could melt and cause damage to the machine or pose a danger to the operator when the machine is started again.
- If sugar begins smoking or burning, reduce the cotton candy maker's heat to avoid damaging the heating element.
When making candy floss, operators should never place their hands near the spinning head. Cotton candy should be collected from the machine with a paper cone.
Cleaning Your Gold Medal Cotton Candy Machine
Properly shutting down your machine after each use and routinely completing Gold Medal's cleaning recommendations will extend the longevity of your cotton candy maker. As with the operating instructions, it's important to check the accompanying manual for any requirements specific to your model.
When it's time to shut your machine down…
- Completely empty the floss head of sugar. Run the machine at the highest heat setting for 3 to 4 minutes to burn off leftover sugar from the floss head, preventing excessive buildup that could permanently damage the unit.
- After turning the heat off, run the motor for 1 to 2 minutes so the floss head can begin cooling.
- Once the motor and master switch has been turned off, the motor should be allowed to stop completely before the machine is cleaned.
While cleaning your cotton candy maker, never put water in the floss head and avoid using abrasive substances.
- Unplug the machine after following the shutdown procedures. Begin cleaning your unit after the floss head has reached room temperature.
- Clean and sanitize your machine's components and wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth.
- Using a Gold Medal concession cleaning product or other nontoxic, food-grade cleaning chemical that won't damage the equipment, wipe down the unit's stainless steel components.
