Cooking Timer
A cooking timer keeps dinner on track hands-free. This kitchen timer is set to 10 minutes by default - Change it to whatever your recipe needs, press start, and a clear alarm tells you the moment it's done.
Tip: press Space to start or pause, R to reset, F for full screen.
About the Cooking Timer
Set a free browser kitchen timer for eggs, pasta, tea, and rice, then walk away and cook by the beep.
A good kitchen timer is the difference between a jammy soft-boiled egg and a rubbery one. Set the time, step away, and let the beep do the watching for you.
This cooking timer runs right in your browser - No app, no sign-up. Start it, mute the guesswork, and get back to the fun part of the meal.
Common cooking times to set
Use these as a starting point, not a rule book. Tweak them for your stove, your pot size, and how you like it.
| Food or step | Set the timer | Quick note |
|---|---|---|
| Soft-boiled egg | 6 min | Runny yolk - Chill in ice water fast |
| Hard-boiled egg | 10 min | Firm yolk, no gray ring |
| Dried pasta (al dente) | 9 min | Taste one strand before you drain |
| Cooked rice (rest) | 10 min | Lid on, heat off - Steam finishes it |
| Tea steep (black or green) | 3 min | Longer means bitter, not stronger |
| Bread dough (first proof) | 60 min | Until doubled - A warm spot helps |
Steeping a cuppa? Grab the 3-minute timer. Cooking rice? Let it rest a full 10 minutes off the heat so every grain fluffs up.
Tip: Start the timer the second food hits the water, not when you finally remember it a minute later.
Tip: For boiled eggs, begin counting when the water returns to a rolling boil so every batch matches.
Tip: Juggling dishes? Run two timers at once - One for the pot on the stove, one for the oven.
Why a timer saves dinner
Cooking is really about timing. A minute too long turns pasta to mush and dries out an egg yolk into a chalky ring. Your memory is busy chopping, stirring, and reading the recipe - So it makes a bad stopwatch.
A timer hands that job to a beep. You can walk away, wipe the counter, or prep the next step without hovering over the pot. It also makes food repeatable: hit 6 minutes for eggs every time and you get the same result every time. For a deeper look, our guide to timing in the kitchen covers batch cooking and juggling dishes. Even a quick 5-minute countdown keeps a simmer or a rest from sneaking past you.
How to Use the Cooking Timer
- Set the timeEnter your cooking time - 3 minutes for soft eggs, 10 for pasta, and so on.
- Press StartThe full-screen countdown is easy to read from across the kitchen.
- Cook hands-freeGet on with the rest of the meal; the alarm brings you back.
- Run several at onceOpen a tab per dish and name each timer so you never mix them up.
Related on timer.now: how to use a timer for cooking, egg timer, kitchen timer and multi-timer.
Browse all online timer tools by activity and timer type.
For audible alerts, keep the page open and test the sound. Browser alarm limits.
Best Uses for the Cooking Timer
Soft, medium or hard - Timed to the second.
Use the recipe time as a cue to check texture and doneness.
Watch cookies, bread and tray bakes precisely.
Green, black or herbal, pulled at the right moment.
Cooking Timer Compared With Similar Timers
| Tool | Choose it when |
|---|---|
| Egg Timer | you are boiling eggs and want doneness guidance |
| Kitchen Timer | you want kitchen-focused presets and guidance |
| Multi-Timer | several dishes need independent alarms |
Related Online Timers
Cooking Timer - FAQ
Can I run more than one kitchen timer?
Will it ring if I switch tabs?
When should I start a cooking timer?
Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs or check a recipe?
I can't hear the beep over the exhaust fan. What can I do?
Want a timer on your own page? Build an iframe embed with a custom title, theme and dimensions.