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9 best kitchen timers to stop you ever burning a cake again
These nifty little accessories will save your phone from getting covered in flour
Kate Hilpern
Thursday 08 October 2020 05:31 EDT
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In the age of the iPhone it may come as a surprise to find that the popularity of the kitchen timer lives on, but many a home cook will attest to their usefulness.
Don’t forget the incredibly loud sound it makes when your cakes are ready, which you’re sure to hear anywhere in the house. Plus you’ll save yourself expensive accidents such as covering your phone in treacle or dropping it in a batter mix.
A simple timer to save victoria sponges from burning, help you to stay on top of the Sunday roast and keep egg yolks runny is always welcome in our kitchen.
In testing we were looking for ease of use, and how effective and loud the alerts were. Some timers had extra appeal too, such as the clip-on. We used the timers over a course of a week when cooking our usual meals; our meals featured rather more dippy eggs than usual as a result.
Whether you’re a wannabe Heston or a vintage-loving baker, there’s a nifty timer for you below in our pick of the best.
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KitchenCraft living nostalgia magnetic mechanical kitchen timer
No need to faff about with batteries, thanks to this mechanical vintage look, conventional mechanical timer that can be set for up to 59 minutes. You won’t miss the alert even if you’re not in the room – it’s a very loud ring. And because it’s magnetic, you can attach it to your fridge, oven or cooker hood. Available in cream or vintage blue, there are also plenty of other kitchen accessories in the living nostalgia range from pie dishes to storage jars.
Salter contour electronic timer
This stands out for its extra-large display and buttons – great if you can never seem to find your reading glasses at critical cooking moments. You won’t miss the very loud beeps and it sets up to 99 minutes 59 seconds, so it’s another good option for slow cooking. The four magnetic feet stick easily onto fridges or ovens or you can stand it up on the worktop. You can use it as a stopwatch too. But it’s more flimsy than other timers, so treat it with care. Battery included.
The verdict: Kitchen timers
The Heston indoor and outdoor 3 in 1 timer provides everything you’d want from a timer, and more. For a mechanical alternative, we rate the KitchenCraft living nostalgia magnetic mechanical kitchen timer, and for something a bit different we love the egg perfect colour changing boiled egg timer.
Looking for some more useful additions to the kitchen? Check our our round-up of the best tea towels and best espresso machines