Kitchen Timers

Published on Thursday, September 4, 2008, by Michele Foley / Edit Post

Kitchen Timers

Keep food from burning,
in style

By Michele Foley

While it’s certainly helpful to own a practical digital kitchen timer, there’s something to be said for the old-fashioned kind—timers that come in bright colors, with a knob to twist, a sound like a ticking clock, or a ringing alarm rather than an electronic beep. Here are 10 models that do the job with a bit more flair.

1 of 10

TYPHOON LIMOUSINE
WHITE TIMER

$7.50

There's nothing wrong with going for the basics: simple design, classic white, and a 60-minute countdown.

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12-KEY DIGITAL TIMER

$10

Our inner nerd loves that these timers look like pocket calculators. Though they're digital, they've got moxie, coming in fun colors, with big buttons and an alarm that sounds until you shut it off. Attach them with magnets to the stove, or stand them on the counter.

3 of 10

MARTHA STEWART COLLECTION OLD FASHIONED TIMER

$12.99

This stainless and plastic timer looks like it came straight out of a 1950s kitchen. It dials up to 60 minutes and rings for 5 seconds.

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MAGNETIC KITCHEN TIMER

$13

It looks and sounds a little like a fire alarm, but this 60-minute timer (which can be attached to any metal surface) should keep you from needing the extinguisher.

5 of 10

ORB TIMER

$13.50

Modern and fun, this wobbly timer looks like nothing else, but works as well as any in this bunch.

6 of 10

KITCHEN TAPE TIMER

$20

Pull the ring to set this 60-minute timer, and watch the tape disappear as the minutes go by. The timer has a lengthy 10-second ring.

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MINITIMER

$20

Designed in 1970 by Richard Sapper, this sleek 60-minute timer is housed in the MoMA's permanent collection. Its numbers are visible from either the top or the side.

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ANTIQUE TIMER

$22.50

Made in Switzerland, this timer has all the precision you'd expect and the old-fashioned style to set it apart.

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STAINLESS STEEL TRIPLE TIMER

$48

When you're cooking more than one thing, you need more than one timer. Here are three connected together, timing for 120 minutes, 60 minutes, and 20 minutes, respectively.

10 of 10

WALL CLOCK AND TIMER

$97

A clock that doubles as a timer—or is it the other way around? The dual functionality is handy, and the small magnetic timer can be removed for when you're on the go.