We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Kitchen Tools The 5 Best Kitchen Timers, According to Our Tests We tested 21 timers from top-rated brands including OXO and ThermoWorks. By Alyssa Longobucco Alyssa Longobucco Alyssa Longobucco is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist living in New York with over a decade of experience in the food, home, and lifestyle categories. When she's not diving into the latest trends and products, she's restoring an 1820s farmhouse in the Hudson Valley alongside her husband and children. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 5, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Our Favorite Kitchen Timer How We Tested Kitchen Timers Factors to Consider FAQ Other Kitchen Timers We Tested Our Expertise Photo: Food & Wine / Riddley Schirm Sure, you can make Nonna’s Sunday sauce from memory, but more advanced multi-step recipes require precision. That’s where a great kitchen timer comes in. Whether you’re a dedicated baker, a passionate barbecue pitmaster, or a newbie looking to set a solid technical foundation, the best kitchen timers act as a safeguard, ensuring you nail the perfect cook on everything from crispy sourdough to poached salmon. “Kitchen timers are one of the most useful learning tools you can find in a kitchen,” says Betsy Thorleifson, professional baker and owner of Nine Cakes in Hudson, New York. “They make it easier to learn a new recipe and follow along with each step of the process along the way. Say a recipe calls for creaming butter and sugar together for 3 to 5 minutes until light and fluffy; if you set a timer, you’ll learn what light and fluffy means.” For many home cooks, a reliable kitchen timer is as indispensable as an accurate instant-read thermometer, a do-it-all chef’s knife, or a kitchen step stool. “The best kitchen timers can help you achieve more in the kitchen,” says Thorleifson. “They’re a great way to help focus your attention and help keep track of where you’re at in a multi-step recipe.” We tested more than 20 picks to help you find the best kitchen timer for your routine. From a four-in-one tracker to a design with an alarm you simply can’t miss, these kitchen timers aced our tests. Our Top Picks Best Overall Kitchen Timer: ThermoWorks TimeStack at Thermoworks.com Jump to Review Best Value Kitchen Timer: Antonki Digital Kitchen Timer, 2-Pack at Amazon $8 Jump to Review Best Analog Kitchen Timer: Time Timer MOD Home Edition at Amazon $27 Jump to Review Best Kitchen Timer for Bakers: Thermoworks Extra Big & Loud Timer at Thermoworks.com Jump to Review Best Easy-to-Read Kitchen Timer: VOCOO Digital Kitchen Timer at Amazon $18 Jump to Review Best Overall Kitchen Timer ThermoWorks TimeStack PHOTO: ThermoWorks View on Thermoworks.com Pros With four simultaneous 100-hour timers, ear-piercing alarm, and custom voice memos, this is the ultimate timing machine. Cons The raised buttons are annoying to clean, and it's quite expensive. ThermoWorks' tower of timing power gives serious home cooks all the bells and whistles. It's water-resistant, has a bright backlight, and its four separate timers can count down from 100 hours. You can even record custom voice alarms for each timer, which means the TimeStack can tell you, out loud and in no uncertain terms, when to start thawing the turkey, when to brine it, when to put it in the oven, and when to take it out. If you prefer the standard alarm, it was quite impressive in our tests when turned to its maximum level — there’s loud and then there’s ThermoWorks loud. (You can also adjust the volume if you need to know when the pizza dough is done rising but don't want to wake a sleeping baby.) The wedge-shaped module is stable atop its non-slip base, and there's also a magnetic back to stick it to an indoor appliance or outdoor smoker. ThermoWorks is a great brand for kitchen tech; its Thermapen ONE has been our favorite instant-read thermometer through multiple tests. However, it's not a value brand: The TimeStack and ThermoWorks' other items are all fairly pricey. Our other complaint about the TimeStack is that its raised buttons are apt to collect spatters and start to stick. Make sure to wipe off any spills before the food dries on. Dimensions: 2.4 x 4.13 x 6.6 inches | Battery: 9-volt (included) PHOTO: Food & Wine / Riddley Schirm PHOTO: Food & Wine / Riddley Schirm Best Value Kitchen Timer Antonki Digital Kitchen Timer, 2-Pack PHOTO: Amazon $8 at Amazon $11 at Walmart Pros This utilitarian timer is dirt-cheap, works great, and comes in lots of colors. Cons It has only the most basic of functions, and its alarm isn't all that loud. For less than the cost of any other kitchen timer we tested, you can get a pair of Antonkis. This device is as basic as it gets, but it does the job. Each of the identical timers has three buttons — start/stop, minutes, and seconds — making it simple to set and operate. There's a kickstand on the back to help the timer stand upright on the counter, or its magnetized back will stick to a refrigerator or oven door. You can even choose from a dozen colorways, with blue, yellow, purple, and pink options to add a little interest to your kitchen. The Antonki doesn't offer anything beyond a single simple timer, and it maxes out at 99 minutes, which means it's not a good choice for hours of slow smoking or all-day simmering. Its alarm was adequate in testing, but it wasn't particularly loud and you could miss it if you're in the next room. Ultimately, the incredibly low price is what makes this model a great option. Dimensions: 0.7 x 2.9 x 2.7 inches | Battery: AAA (included) PHOTO: Food & Wine / Megan Wood PHOTO: Food & Wine / Megan Wood PHOTO: Food & Wine / Megan Wood Best Analog Kitchen Timer Time Timer MOD Home Edition PHOTO: Amazon $27 at Amazon $29 at Target $29 at Walmart Pros This kitchen timer models your time left in a beautifully visual way that's easy for younger cooks to comprehend. Cons The maximum time setting is an hour, and the alarm is a bit short and soft. Yearning for the good old days? This kitchen timer is just as simple as the one Grandma used to rely on, with a few modern perks thrown in. Ditching digital displays and buttons for a straightforward dial, this timer displays how much time remains as a bright red disk, so a glance lets you know where you stand on your cook. The body of the timer itself is sturdy and square, encased in a silicone protector for extra durability. The strength and simplicity of the Time Timer MOD make it ideal for cooking with kids. It proved very reliable when tested against a digital version, and it was easy to set it to “in-between” time (e.g. 7 minutes for the perfect soft scrambled eggs) accurately. Whether you're cooking with impatient littles or just can’t bear the idea of one more piece of tech gear, it's a good choice. The major downside is that you can't set longer than a 1-hour timer with this device; it's for short-term timing only. The alarm is also not the loudest in the world, so you should stay in a nearby room while you cook. Dimensions: 2.05 x 3.62 x 3.62 inches | Battery: AA (not included) PHOTO: Food & Wine / Cecily McAndrews PHOTO: Food & Wine / Cecily McAndrews Best Kitchen Timer for Bakers Thermoworks Extra Big & Loud Timer PHOTO: Thermoworks View on Thermoworks.com View on Kingarthurbaking.com Pros This easy-to-see, large-buttoned timer has an alarm you can hear anywhere in the house. Cons The screen is always on, which may drain the battery faster than other, cheaper, timers. If you’re the type that likes to make the most of their baking time by also checking emails, doing laundry, and vacuuming the living room, then this kitchen timer is for you. The Extra Big & Loud is indeed both of those things, with a wide, visible screen and by far the loudest alarm in our testing. (Even at the lowest-volume setting, we could hear it from two rooms away.) With the ability to measure time up to 99 hours, it can tackle any recipe on your baking Pinterest board. The alarm itself is also sophisticated: It will signal for a minute before quieting down for a few seconds, then signaling again. It continues to count the time passed as the alarm is sounding, so even if you miss it for a minute or two, you can still maintain precise timing. There's a stable kickstand as well as a magnet, the body is waterproof, and it's available in nine fun colors. Like the ThermoWorks TimeStack, the Extra Big & Loud is rather pricey for a kitchen timer. Another small issue we noted is that the LED screen is always "on" — unlike other timers, it doesn't go blank when not in use. This could potentially drain the battery more quickly. Dimensions: 1.15 x 3.5 x 5.1 inches | Battery: 9-volt (included) PHOTO: Food & Wine / Rachel Shalla PHOTO: Food & Wine / Rachel Shalla Best Easy-to-Read Kitchen Timer VOCOO Digital Kitchen Timer PHOTO: Amazon $18 at Amazon $18 at Walmart Pros This buttonless design is free of creases or crevices, making it the easiest to clean on our list. Cons You use the same button for reset, start, and pause, which can get confusing. If clarity is what you’re after, look no further than this easy-to-read digital kitchen time from VOCOO. Designed with modern and clean lines, the hockey puck-shaped device is all-screen, with bright digital numbers and nothing else to get in the way. This timer works like a Nest thermostat, with a rotating ring to set the time and a single button for control. It has non-slip silicone pads on the bottom and is magnetic, or you can just slip it into the pocket of a kitchen apron to keep tabs on your latest baking masterpiece. The VOCOO's simplicity is great for basic timer operation, but it makes it more complicated to access its other functions. You can adjust the alarm volume and screen brightness, though you'll probably have to look up in the manual how to do so. There's also an upper limit of 100 minutes as opposed to the hours and days of other models. Dimensions: 3.07 x 3.07 x 1.06 inches | Batteries: 3 AAA (included) PHOTO: Food & Wine / Hang Pham PHOTO: Food & Wine / Hang Pham PHOTO: Food & Wine / Hang Pham Our Favorite Kitchen Timer Our favorite timer is the ThermoWorks TimeStack. This quadruple timer has all the features anyone could want, including a highly visible screen, simple buttons, top-tier durability, and custom recordable voice alarms. How We Tested Kitchen Timers Food & Wine / Hang Pham We tested a total of 21 kitchen timers, including 14 digital models and seven analog options. This included everything from a single 60-minute dial timer to devices with four separate clocks and a time limit of more than 4 full days. We assigned the timers ratings in four main categories: Design: Using the timers in our general everyday cooking and baking, we evaluated factors like the size and readability of the numbers, the brightness of the screen, and the volume of the alarm. Our favorite timers were designed with a clear and visible display that was easy to read from anywhere in the kitchen.Ease of use: We rated how easy it was to install each timer's batteries, whether it was simple to set an amount of time precisely, and if options like volume and backlight settings were user-friendly to adjust. We also looked at the timers' stability on the counter, stuck to the refrigerator with a magnet, or carried around in a pocket if possible.Accuracy: To test the accuracy of the analog timers, we set each one for 5 minutes and measured the actual time using a digital stopwatch.Cleaning and durability: We sprinkled each timer with dry flour and followed the user manual to clean it, noting whether flour got stuck in inaccessible crevices. We also considered other measures of durability like water resistance, and if we dropped any of the timers during testing, we noted if they sustained any damage or seemed impervious to small kitchen accidents. After completing our performance testing, we revealed the retail prices of the timers to consider value for money. The 21 timers we tested ranged in cost from $12 to $65, with an average of $28. Food & Wine / Elle Wignall Factors to Consider Alarm The most important thing a kitchen timer needs to do is to alert you that time is up. An extra-loud alarm can be helpful if you're cooking outside or plan to do other things while your timer runs. Some of the timers we tested would be audible through doors and windows, while others are so quiet you must be in the same room. Many have adjustable volume, though you probably want to err on the loud side. If you opt for a timer with multiple alarms, it's good to make sure each one has a different tone so you know which is going off and what dish to address. Stability and Portability The best kitchen timers are usually small and compact gadgets, which makes them easy to keep out of the way but also easy to lose. Tiny palm-sized devices can slip into an apron pocket and be carried from room to room, while larger timers must stay in place. Some have a kickstand or non-skid padding to keep them stable on the countertop, some have magnets built in and can stick to the oven, fridge, or other appliances, and some have both. Display Your chosen kitchen timer should have a clear and visible screen that is easy to read, even from across the room. Most options use LED displays and have a backlight, but size and quality vary. In general, the bigger the numbers and the brighter the screen, the better. Frequently Asked Questions Do professional kitchens use timers? Yes — many professional kitchens use kitchen timers, whether they’re cooking up your main meal or mouth-watering pastries. Amid the chaos of a restaurant kitchen, individual cooks often use their timers to keep track of their dishes and coordinate with the rest of the staff to keep service flowing. What is the difference between mechanical and digital kitchen timers? The difference is in the display. A mechanical (also known as analog) timer uses an old-timey clock dial to show the time remaining, while a digital one has numbers that count down. Most chefs and home cooks find the precise numerical display of a digital kitchen timer preferable, though an analog version is straightforward, simple to use with small children, and offers some old-fashioned visual appeal. Digital timers are battery-powered, while analog ones might use electricity or a manual wind-up dial. What special features should you look for in a kitchen timer? If you want a kitchen timer that truly does it all, shop for a gadget that touts a clear, oversized screen, loud alarm, a count-up and count-down timer, and at least a 4-hour limit. Some timers can't handle more than 60 or 100 minutes, which isn't enough for slow-cooked items. If you’re a savvy home cook with several dishes going at once, you should strongly consider a multi-clock timer that allows you to track more than one recipe at a time. Food & Wine / Rachel Shalla Other Kitchen Timers We Tested Strong Contenders ThermoWorks TimeStick Trio ($37 at ThermoWorks)Considering two other ThermoWorks kitchen timers made our list, we had high hopes for this model — and they were mostly met. Geared towards kitchens with minimal storage, the TimeStick packs three timers into a tiny gadget. That being said, the buttons weren’t as responsive as we would have liked during testing, and the alarm could have been louder. Marathon Commercial Grade Direct Entry Table Timer ($25 at Amazon)This kitchen timer may look like an old-school calculator (part of the reason why we docked it a few points), but it certainly gets the job done when it comes to rudimentary kitchen timing tasks. Like many of the other options on our list, it allows you to count up or down to a predetermined time, with a limit of 100 hours. Ultimately, though, it was just too bulky and clunky in appearance compared to our favorites. Taylor Super-Loud Digital Timer ($16 at Amazon)This ear-splitting timer was audible from across a whole house, and we loved how intuitive and easy to operate the palm-sized device was. At the end of the day, it just didn’t have as many bonus features as its list-worthy counterparts. ThermoPro TM02 Digital Kitchen Timer ($18 at Amazon)While this ThermoPro device has a large, legible screen and durable body, setting the timer wasn’t as intuitive as with other models, and if you accidentally added too much time to your counter, you had to zero out and start over. Beyond that, the alarm could have been louder. If you're going to go for a ThermoPro, spring for one of the brand's more expensive options. What Didn't Make the List All of the kitchen timer models we tested got pretty good scores — they were all able to measure time just fine. It was comparatively minor complaints like too-soft alarms and confusing controls that pushed the losing options to the bottom of the list, along with basic timers that cost more than they should have. Brands we tried that didn't turn out to be winners included Secura, Williams Sonoma, Zassenhaus, and others. Our Expertise Alyssa Longobucco is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist with a background in food, interior, and lifestyle content. She has over a decade of experience in the digital and magazine industry creating unique and innovative content for storied brands such as Food and Wine, House Beautiful, HGTV, The Knot, Domino, Apartment Therapy, Real Simple, Food52, Good Housekeeping, and more. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit