Presto 04213 Electronic Digital Timer, White Import To Shop ×Product customization General Description Gallery Reviews

A nuisance to set, but perfect of certain uses.Update, 11/2/2019. After extended use, I’ve found this timer to be very convenient if and only if:1. You are timing a low number of minutes (ideally, five or fewer) and no seconds (so you do not endure the repeated beeping for each minute and second as you set the starting time).2. Or, you ALWAYS let the timer run down to zero, never stopping it early (so it automatically resets to the starting time when it counts down all the way to zero).3. Or, you use it as a stopwatch, not as a count-down timer (the device does provide this option; just press the start button when the timer is set to zero). In this case you don’t have to set a starting time and endure the beeping criticized in my original review.It turns out there are situations in which this is exactly what I need.Under any of the above conditions, the timer is convenient and effective to use, and given its low price (when I purchased it) and proven durability, it’s a good deal. I’m raising my rating to four stars.[End update.]Pro: 1. Solidly built. 2. Has both a flip-out stand and a magnetic attachment option. 3. Accurate. 4. Easy to read display. 5. Loud alarm. 6. May be set for from zero to 99 minutes and independently from zero to 60 seconds. 7. Once you set the timer it will “remember” that time and automatically reuse it for each subsequent timing until you reset the timer (assuming that once you start the timer, you allow it to count down all the way to zero; see below).Con: 1. A nuisance to set. You must hold down the “minute” button (or the “second” button) to cycle one-by-one from zero up to the desired setting, and each increment emits a loud beep, so if you are setting the timer to 30 minutes you must endure thirty obnoxious beeps. Heaven forbid you want a setting of 30 minutes and 30 seconds in which case you must endure sixty beeps. If you accidentally go past your intended target (by even one minute or one second) you must clear the timer to zero and start over. 2. Once you start the timer, you must allow it to count down all the way to zero before it will return to the previous time setting. If for any reason you stop the timer early (before it reaches zero) then you must either (a) restart it from where you stopped it and allow it to continue the count down to zero or (b) clear the time setting, in which case it “forgets” your previous setting and you must go through the aggravating procedure of setting the time again.I bought this timer because it was inexpensive, but I also bought the West Bend Digital timer from Amazon.com and it is well worth the additional cost because it allows you to directly enter the time setting on a 10-digit keypad.

Excellent timerThis is my first digital kitchen timer. I have used a mechanical timer made by Sunbeam but it broke after only a year or so of use. Compare to the mechanical timer, I like this far more.It’s made in China and the quality of the plastic and the built are better than you’d find in other products made in China, but not to the level of Japanese electronics or ipod. For me, it’s very acceptable.The dimension described in the product features, detail is wrong. It’s not even the size of the package but close except the thickness. Actual dimensions are (17mm x 56mm x 67mm), and it’s quite easily pocketable.It has a magnet for keeping on the refrigerator door and paper clip that also function as a stand. When you open the clip half way, it opens wide enough for a paper or a card. When you open it all the way, small metal piece drops between the body and the clip to keep it open as a stand. When flip it upside down and open the clip all the way again, metal piece retract again. The clip also covers the battery compartment when it’s closed. If anything gives you an impression that this is a cheaply made gadget, the battery cover will be it.Operation is easy enough that you can skip the instruction. It has a minute button and a second button and the number only goes up, not down. Push both to clear the number. When the count down ends and the alarm kicks in, it sets the same numbers you put in before. If you want to start a new time, clear the display first then set the new time. It doesn’t have on-off switch. I’m planning to use rechargeable battery, so this is not a problem for me.The alarm makes 4 short beeps about every second and goes for about 30 seconds. It’s loud enough in my pocket and that’s the way I use it. Since it’s small enough, there’s no excuse leaving it in the kitchen.This is a timer with simplest function for the cheapest price. If you need more functions, this is probably not a good choice. If you are used to mechanical timer, this will give you more than you need.Highly recommended.*update*(Jan-18-10)I found that the timer won’t work with rechargeable battery. It still uses the original battery came with it, so I’ll post when it runs out. I use it several times every day.*update*(11-30-10)I accidentally threw the timer in the washer and it had died. Keeping it in the pocket wasn’t such a good idea after all. The original battery came with the timer was working up until today, so I didn’t see the end of it. The battery wasn’t even alkaline, but so called Heavy Duty type. Alkaline AAA should last for a few years.

Good timer..great company!The timer is what it is and works great! The first timer I received was broken from shipping. The company sent me a replacement.

Well designedI’ve used this timer now for a month, and I’m impressed with the thought that went into such a simple object. First of all, it feels solid, not flimsy. It’s small enough for a shirt pocket but not so small it’s hard to use or see. The controls are simple and intuitive, only 3 buttons; the old setting is cleared by pressing the hour and minute buttons together. The third button starts or stops it.The “time up” alarm is loud enough to get me to react; more on that later. The display is clear. The 3-way clip on the back means it can be worn on a belt, magnetized to any iron surface, or propped up on the counter. Of course, it can simply be set flat on a counter.Some reviewers have complained that it sounds too loudly, and too often. I accidentally discovered that when a finger covers the a small hole in back, it muffles the beeps quite well, so that takes care of the noise when setting it. I like the loud alarm when time is up, but my partner doesn’t. So I put a small piece of Scotch tape over the hole, and the beep is less than half as loud.The only feature that baffled me for a while was the little metal U-shaped bracket that props the clip open, so it can function as a stand. Too simple: it’s gravity operated. Hold the clip open and turn the timer back downward, and the bracket pops out every time. Reverse the process to fold it away. It was this ingenious little touch that finally convinced me that the design is brilliant.+++++ Just after submitting the above, I ordered another one (to replace a retro, wind-up timer, ordered at the same time, that stopped working after one try). However, my second Presto Digital Timer arrived broken: display did not function fully. +++++ Replacement for the above came in 24 hours. Hint: the ones in the plastic display packaging are OK, the ones in the straight-from-China paper box can be iffy.

Very useful bargainI love this little thing. It counts up, counts down, easy to use, easy to see and hear, sticks to my fridge, stands upright on a surface when you deploy the little stand in back, and very best of all just pops in your pocket. The latter feature is especially useful to me, as I will frequently have something going on the stove or in the oven but do not wish to be stuck within hearing distance of the stove’s timer. This little device allows me to roam, even outside, confident that I won’t forget something is cooking, and is handier than other portable alternatives.As for durability, I used it very frequently and without incident for 15 months. Then one day I accidentally bumped it with my shoulder while passing the fridge (I store the device on the fridge door) and the magnet failed to hold it and it fell around five feet to the kitchen floor. This knocked open the battery case door, dislodged the battery, and bent the spring that holds the battery in position. However, I easily repaired it and, bearing in mind we’re not paying Rolex prices here, I considered the problem to be more the magnet is too weak to handle a careless passerby than the device is too flimsy to withstand smashing on the floor. You could of course just store the device in a safer position or place, but I elected to glue a neodymium magnet to the back to take care of it, and we’ve since been using the timer almost daily again without any problems.Given what I paid for it and the length of time I have now used it my ownership costis about to get below a penny a day. Given its utility and the frequency with which I use it I’d have to say that “for the money” this merits five stars, for me it has been a very useful item for little cost.