I experimented with Digital timers for awhile. Android’s screeches at me until I turn it off. That’s hard to do when I’m removing something from the oven. I don’t have a free hand to drag my phone out, wake it up, and open the App.
My microwave has a timer. I use it occasionally. It’s fine for three minute eggs. But, baking a Stouffer’s lasagna for 50 mins? Invariably, I need to heat a side dish just before serving. Can’t use my microwave when it’s in timer mode.
I downloaded a kitchen timer App from Android Play store. Looks just like a mechanical one. But, you can’t see the time remaining because the phone goes to sleep.
The digital kitchen timers require futzing with menu buttons. I just greased a baking pan, do I want to press tiny buttons?
So, I bought a $4 wind up timer from Walmart. Fastest and quickest way I’ve found for cooking. I also have two my mom gave me from the 1970’s. Still work perfectly. I use them for my piano practice.
Never had a mechanical one, but I use my phone all the time for a timer. No problems with it. While it does keep beeping an beeping until I turn it off, I’m hard of hearing, so that’s a good thing.
I don’t understand the problem with the phone timer. Why don’t you silence the screeching alarm before reaching for the oven door?
I found a couple kitchen timers when I bought my ‘not fully cleaned out’ house and I think I’ve still got one or two in the basement. So I’ve got some I could use but guess I really don’t need any extra gadgets to clutter the kitchen.
My oven has a timer which you set in minutes, and the microwave has a timer which you can get down to seconds, and I also have a windup one. I use the electronic ones for most things, and the windup one for blintzes and baked potatoes.
In general the digital ones are more precise and easier to check the progress on.
Kind of strange that you can’t use the microwave when the timer is going. You might just have to hit “cook time” or something like that first, rather than going right to the numbers.
I have assorted timers all over the house, all electronic. I use them to keep on task when I’m doing chores (really, you can do this for 15 minutes, right?)
I need the electronic ones, because the manual ones ding once and quit. And I can easily miss that, but I (almost never) miss the electronic ones.
One of mine has a 5 minute warning - 5 minutes before it goes off, it warbles twice.
I have several Polder timers around the house and I use them constantly. A bit pricey at around $20, but they sure do the job. They are countdown and countup timers as well a built-in clock.
I guess it depends on what someone grows up using?
I was in my twenties before inexpensive digital timers were common. I tried for years to convince myself they were better and more convenient than the windup timer on my countertop.
I remember my first “digital clock” had the numbers that flipped over. I didn’t get LED until later.
I like wind up timers and alarm clocks too, but the ones I find keep breaking quickly. I even bought an expensive clock, thinking my problem was cheap models, and that broke after a few months.
So I don’t think they make the mechanical ones like they do.
The trouble with digital ones, for me, is that every one brings me a fresh new user model for how to think about operating a timer. I absolutely hate each new purchase, even the $5 ones, expecting me to grow and learn another paradigm.
And many of them are treacherous. Burning dinner because I didn’t navigate to the Enable screen and hit Yes when I started it. Missing something because having the alarm go off, and having it make sound, are two separate functions. And the inevitable timer that can’t be used while using any other function on the same device. Half these things flash 88:88 endlessly after every power flicker, adding insult to injury.
I wonder if most things that get a microprocessor built into them would be better off without one.
I use a mechanical lab timer I accidentally borrowed from a college lab. It looks like a square gray table clock. You use the knob on the front to set the minutes and then push a lever on the side down. It gives a loud, long ring when the time has expired. It’s been working great for over 40 years. I’m too lazy to go in and check the manufacturer.
Uhh, that’s like the 2017 way to do that? Maybe earlier…
Get an Alexa or a Google home. Both companies offer inexpensive models that are around $20-$30.
Just verbally say “Alexa, set timer for <time>”. Alexa will respond and start chiming after the time expires.
Same for google home. I have both but use Alexa more.
You can put one in your kitchen, that’s basically what they are for. Also helpful to connect some of your lights to them, via smart bulbs or smart switches or outlets. Then you can say “Alexa, set the counter light to 50%” as needed.
I have no problem using the digital timer on the oven or the microwave. I do have an old mechanical timer. I use it sometimes when I have something in the oven, but am going to be in the backyard or on the patio and can’t hear the kitchen timers. I put the little gizmo on the patio table and don’t have to worry about burnt offerings.
never thought about a timer on my cell phone. Do they all have them? But when I’m at home the cell phone is usually turned off and parked on the charger in my office.
Exactly. I use the timer that comes with the oven, which is currently digital.
Actually, even more frequently we use a Polder digital meat thermometer (that I got as a wedding gift) that beeps when the meat is at the desired temperature.
Oven - well, somewhat shamefacedly and despite an extensive IT background, I’ve never been able to quite figure the inbuilt timer out :o so I just use the Timely app on my phone
Mom broke hers when I was a teenager. So, I got one from Ebay. Works great.