Why You Need a Kitchen Timer

By charlesthermopro

Last updated Feb 24, 2023

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At first glance, the humble kitchen timer may seem to be an outdated device that dates back to a less sophisticated time. Best remembered as egg timers equipped with nostalgic dings, these mechanical wind-up contraptions have been surpassed by the libraries of apps available in the modern smartphone.

Or, so it would seem.

In their newest incarnation, digital kitchen timers remain as vital as they always were. Even though we can now find timers in our ovens, microwaves, and smartphones, these devices continue to play an important role in our homes.

Just why do you need a kitchen timer? Check out the following reasons why your home needs this essential household device.

Kitchen Timer Reason #1: Reliable & Practical

Many products try to upsell themselves by providing extra value to the customer. Once LCD and digital displays became commonplace, it became expected that a new product included a clock as a feature. During this same era, wristwatches started adding extra features that included calendars and calculators. Unfortunately, more does not always equal more, especially when it comes to functionality.

With a kitchen timer, there’s no need to sort different menus or tabs. This device can be counted upon to always inform you of the remaining time. Its display doesn’t get cluttered, and its simple controls ensure its settings won’t get accidentally reset.

Simply put, it does one thing, and it does that thing very well.

Kitchen Timer Reason #2: Easy to Clean

You’ll always know a character in a movie has been baking because of the flour marks on their faces. As tired as this cliche is, it remains true enough that flour tends to get everywhere. And if you are in the habit of using your phone as a timer, you can bet that you’ll get flour on this expensive purchase of yours. And if you use it for other cooking tasks, it’s more than likely that your phone may attract bacteria from raw meat ingredients, for example.

On the other hand, you won’t experience these problems with a modern digital timer. Built with a rugged exterior, these devices were designed to withstand the rigors of kitchen tasks. And if they do happen to get dirty, these devices feature a strong plastic housing that makes cleanup a snap.

Kitchen Timer Reason #3: Simple to Operate

“Fast-paced” is a term that could be used to describe many household kitchens. A combination of a busy schedule and family responsibilities doesn’t leave people much time to prepare meals. Kitchen tools by nature need to be practical, reliable, and able to keep up with your lifestyle. This means that when you need to set a timer, you don’t have the time to navigate a set of menus.

Simplicity is exactly what a kitchen timer can provide. Designed with an intuitive interface, digital timers are your quick and easy solution for your timer needs. These devices are built with large, friendly buttons that allow for immediate use when you’re busy micromanaging other tasks.

Kitchen Timer Reason #4: Easy to Read

Keeping track of a countdown shouldn’t have to be a frustrating experience. Checking the remaining time becomes a chore if it requires doing additional steps. Ideally, a good kitchen timer shouldn’t just help you measure time, but save time, too.

For this reason, digital timers feature screens with ongoing readouts of the remaining time. With a glance, its singular function will always inform you of the remaining time. Not only that, but digital timers also regularly feature large screens and large fonts that make reading easy from across the room.

Kitchen Timer Reason #5: Stopwatch

It can be difficult to know how much time to set on your timer. Should you add an extra 15 minutes because the meat wasn’t completely defrosted when putting it in the oven? Or should you subtract 10 minutes because you’re cooking it at a higher temperature to match the casserole that’s been in there for longer?

If you’re not sure of the time duration to put on your timer, don’t use a timer at all. Instead, you can use the stopwatch option that is available on most digital timers. With a count that moves upwards, you can keep track of all overall times and make your cooking decisions on the fly.

Kitchen Timers: Other Applications

Even though their closest association is with the kitchen, digital timers are practical tools that can serve a variety of situations in and outside the home:

Teachers & Tutors: Classroom activities, lessons
Students: Homework, study, reading
Children: Playtime, timeouts, video game sessions
Fitness & Health Enthusiasts: Aerobic sessions, strength training, yoga sessions
Health & Beauty Practitioners: Spa sessions, facials, hair dyeing
Musicians: Practice sessions, rehearsals
Hobbyists & Creators: Gluing, clay setting, paint drying, 3D prints
Photographers: Film developing