How to make cotton candy - Bytesize Science

Summary

In this educational video, Professor Richard Tell from the University of Wisconsin demonstrates the process of making cotton candy. He begins by explaining the ingredients, including sugar with flavor and color coatings. The sugar is placed into a cotton candy machine where heating elements melt it to a liquid state. The liquid sugar is then spun out through small holes by centrifugal force, quickly cooling to form delicate strands of cotton candy. The process is visually illustrated as the sugar transforms into the familiar fluffy treat.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script features Richard, a professor of food engineering at the University of Wisconsin, demonstrating how to make cotton candy.
• 😀 The cotton candy process begins with granulated sugar, flavored and colored for a fruity cotton candy flavor.
• 😀 Richard uses a cotton candy machine that features heating elements, similar to toaster coils, to melt the sugar above 190°C.
• 😀 The heated sugar turns into a liquid, which is then spun out through holes in the spinning device by centrifugal force.
• 😀 As the liquid candy is spun, it quickly cools down to room temperature, turning into thin threads of cotton candy.
• 😀 The cotton candy threads are collected on the outside of the machine as they form.
• 😀 Richard demonstrates pouring the sugar into the spinning device, activating the motor, and waiting for the sugar to melt.
• 😀 The process relies on both heating and centrifugal force to turn the sugar into cotton candy.
• 😀 The spinning machine's disc shape helps spread the liquid sugar into fine threads, forming the characteristic cotton candy texture.
• 😀 The final product is a cone of fluffy cotton candy, which forms as the sugar strands are collected from the spinning process.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the demonstration in the video?

The main purpose of the demonstration is to show how cotton candy is made using a cotton candy machine.

What is the primary ingredient used to make cotton candy in this demonstration?

The primary ingredient used is granulated sugar, which is flavored and colored for the cotton candy.

What flavor of cotton candy sugar is being used in the demonstration?

The flavor of the cotton candy sugar being used is 'tutti frutti'.

How is the cotton candy sugar prepared before it is placed in the machine?

The cotton candy sugar is poured into a beaker to show what it looks like before being placed into the spinning device.

What happens to the sugar once it is placed in the spinning device?

Once the sugar is placed in the spinning device, it is heated above its melting point, turning into a liquid.

What is the role of the heating element inside the cotton candy machine?

The heating element inside the machine, similar to a toaster coil, heats the sugar above 190°C (centigrade), turning it into a liquid.

What is the purpose of the holes in the spinning device of the cotton candy machine?

The holes in the spinning device allow the liquid sugar to be spun out through centrifugal force, turning it into cotton candy threads.

How does the liquid sugar turn into cotton candy threads?

The liquid sugar is spun out through the holes of the machine by centrifugal force, and as it cools rapidly, it solidifies into thin cotton candy threads.

What happens to the liquid sugar as it cools down?

As the liquid sugar cools quickly to room temperature, it forms into a glass-like structure, which becomes the cotton candy threads.

How is the cotton candy collected after being spun out?

The cotton candy threads are collected on the outside of the machine and are wrapped around a cone to form the final cotton candy shape.