Cooking Timer
Multiple simultaneous cooking timers with custom labels, duration settings and audio alerts when time is up
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Note: Timers do not continue if you close this page. Keep the page open while timing.
Why a Kitchen Timer Beats Your Phone
You are roasting potatoes, simmering peas, boiling pasta and basting a chicken; that is four parallel timers running, and your phone gives you one. This timer keeps multiple labelled countdowns going at once. Type 'pasta', set 9 minutes, hit add. Type 'broccoli', set 5 minutes, hit add. Each timer runs independently with its own start, pause and reset, and an audible alert when it hits zero. No swiping between phone screens with floury hands, no accidentally deleting the wrong timer mid-stir.
Labelling matters more than people expect. A naked countdown of 6:42 means nothing once you have three of them; 'rice 6:42' is instantly readable. The label appears next to the time so a quick glance from across the kitchen confirms which thing is about to need attention. The timer page works in any browser tab and persists while open.
When You Need More Than One Timer
Sunday lunch is the obvious case: roast goes in first, potatoes 45 minutes later, vegetables for the last 10 minutes, gravy in the final 5. That is four overlapping timers and a real cognitive load to track in your head. A weeknight pasta with a sauce on the hob is two timers (one for the pasta water, one for the simmer). A baking session with cupcakes in the oven and icing setting on the counter is two more. Once you have got used to running parallel timers the old single-countdown approach feels claustrophobic.
Keep the browser tab open while cooking; if you close it, the timers reset because nothing is saved server-side (a deliberate choice, this tool runs entirely in your browser). For longer roasts where exact timing matters, the [cooking time calculator](/cooking-time-calculator) builds a backwards-from-serve-time schedule that you can then plug into individual timers here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run multiple timers at the same time?
Yes, that is the main reason this tool exists. Add as many as you need (pasta, rice, vegetables, oven check), each with its own label and duration. They all count down independently and beep when they finish.
Will the timer work if I close the page?
No. The timers run in the browser tab; closing the page or putting the device into deep sleep stops them. For long unattended cooks (overnight slow cook, 4-hour braise) use a physical timer or a smart speaker alarm as backup.
Is there an audible alert?
Yes, each timer plays a sound when it hits zero, as long as your device volume is up and the browser tab is allowed to play audio. Some browsers block sound until you have interacted with the page, so the first time you load it, hit Start on a quick test timer to enable audio.
What is a good default time for boiling eggs?
Soft-boiled eggs from cold water: 4 to 5 minutes once boiling. Medium: 6 to 7 minutes. Hard-boiled: 9 to 10 minutes. Drop those in here as labelled timers and you will hit the same result every time. For more precise egg cooking with adjustments for size and temperature, the [egg timer](/egg-timer) handles the calculation.