5 Clever Ways To Use A Kitchen Timer

Perhaps you're one of these strange people that can look up at the sky in any part of the world, and accurately tell what time of day it is, or how long you've been at a task?

Chances are though, you're like most normal humans where time whips by fast when you're having fun, and stretches to infinity when we're bored out of our minds.

This can play havoc when you're cooking! Many recipes call for strict time-keeping, otherwise you risk ruining your meal. So a handy kitchen timer is a must for most families.

However, did you know that your timer can be used for so much more than just timing your roasts or cakes?

Have a read of these unusual uses. Never mind cooking, you'll wonder how you ever got past a day without using a timer

Time cleaning sessions.

Not many of us enjoy cleaning chores. But, have you noticed, you end up OVER doing it?? As soon as you start, you add on other cleaning tasks that are not hugely necessary right now.

Dusting off the top shelf of a cabinet. Polishing brass knobs. All great when you have time to spare. But not for right now.
Instead, set your kitchen timer to go off at 20 or 30 minute intervals.

That is all you have to clean a room. You'll find when you're racing against the buzzer, you will get what absolutely needs to be done, and you'll leave the rest.

Oh yes, and if you then have a guest who gives you a withering look just because they've found a tiny spec of dust somewhere? Please show them the door. You don't need people like that in your life anyway!

Teach your children the power of focus.

Very similar to helping your focus on cleaning, your kitchen timer is a great little device that can teach your child how to focus on a task at hand, such as tidying up+ their toys, getting their dirty laundry into the wash basket, brushing their teeth (for at least 2 minutes), or getting their homework done.

When your child has a chore to complete that is boring, turning it into a 'get it finished before the buzzer goes off' game makes things a lot more interesting.

Set the timer for an absolute maximum of 20 minutes per task, and ideally for just 10 or even 5 minutes. Keep in mind, a child's attention span is shorter than an adult's, and their perception of time is longer (it's why you remember a childhood summer holiday as 'never ending').

You'll be amazed at what they can accomplish when you turn all chores into a game.

Teach your family to learn when it's time for dinner.

Most households usually involve a parent shouting out that dinner is ready. Then a cycle starts of shouting again every 5 minutes or so, with various family members turning up at different shouts.

The 'game' ends with the parent in a horrible mood – not ideal for when a family want to sit down together and share a meal!

Instead try this. Shout out to your family that dinner is read. Then, set the timer for however many minutes you feel is appropriate for them to finish whatever it is their doing and get themselves down to the table.

It'll take a bit of training, but most people (children and adults) respond better to this than being shouted at.

Put an end to TV / computer battles

We've all used the TV, and increasingly a laptop or tablet, as an easy way to keeping children entertained when we're busy. But, as responsible parents, we also know that it's not healthy for them to be sat there glued to a screen for hours.

Using a kitchen timer becomes a useful 'get out of jail for free' card.

Set your timer for how ever many minutes you wish your child to be in front of the screen. When the buzzer goes off, deal with any complaints with a simple 'the buzzers gone off, so it's time to switch off'.

This technique will lose it's power as your child enters its teens (and starts to learn how to renegotiate), but on younger children, you'll find that this technique of 'blame the timer' works extremely well.

Put an end to board game battles

Most board games use a sand timer. Inevitably, children (and adults) forget to keep an eye on the timer, leading to squabbles and accusations of cheating.

End all of this with your kitchen timer. You can't ignore a buzzer!

Do you have an unusual use for your kitchen timer that’s not on our list? Tell us! How do YOU use your Chef Remi Kitchen Timer??