Do you use a timer when cooking?

[Ms T]

Mr Paw times boiling pasta

I consider that essential, if you don't want soggy, overcooked pasta.

I use a timer all the time. Makes life easier, innit?

 

[upinsmoke]

No..the smell of burning is usually a good indicator that its done

 

[Structaural]

I use a widget on the computer. It's very important as my oven has one temperature - about 280°C

 

[aqua]

I consider that essential, if you don't want soggy, overcooked pasta.

I use a timer all the time. Makes life easier, innit?

taking a piece out of the pan and trying it is the way to get perfect pasta

too many other factors involved to make timing it the best way - type of pasta, the packet contents vary, the gas pressure, what else is on/in the oven, which pan you're using etc

 

[internetstalker]

I couldn't live without mine

no

just a clock!

 

[internetstalker]

Things would burn if I didn't use one

does that mean you use it to remind you your cooking?

 

[Santino]

I'm not saying if I do or don't, but rest assured that whatever I do makes me morally superior to you.

 

[Orang Utan]

does that mean you use it to remind you your cooking?

It tells me when something's ready - if I used a clock, I'd have to watch it constantly, and that's no fun

 

[rennie]

No never. I look or taste the food to know if it's cooked although the other half will undoubtedly disagree.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Yeah i do, just makes things easier. The people saying 'no' act like there's some shame in using a timer,lol.

 

[aqua]

The people saying 'no' act like there's some shame in using a timer,lol.

not shame at all I use one when I'm baking proper cakes (the ones for wedding etc) but even then its not to the minute and smelling the cakes is often more reliable

It's whatever works for each person but in my experience & opinion, using a timer isn't the best way of cooking food

 

[jontz01]

Never use a timer for anything. I use my eyes and sense of smell to know when stuff is done.

Exactly this....




Timer for pasta? FFS. Take a bit out, taste it.
Sausages, have a look! I'm going before I rant....

 

[Orang Utan]

Exactly this....




Timer for pasta? FFS. Take a bit out, taste it.
Sausages, have a look! I'm going before I rant....

But one needs it to co-ordinate with the other things cooking - you want things to be ready at the same time!

 

[sheothebudworths]

I'm not saying if I do or don't, but rest assured that whatever I do makes me morally superior to you.

I do, btw.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Exactly this....




Timer for pasta? FFS. Take a bit out, taste it.
Sausages, have a look! I'm going before I rant....

You need to calm down. Im going to use a timer every single time i cook even if i don't need to now just to piss people like you off.

 

[jontz01]

You need to calm down. Im going to use a timer every single time i cook even if i don't need to now just to piss people like you off.

Fair play...

I've got nothing against it, it's just not my style....

OU, I just go for it.. Once you've got a rough idea of how long things take, it all comes together in the end...

The hardest things to coordinate timewise IMO are the two british greats, the fry up and the sunday/Christmas roast...

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Ahh i certainly don't use a timer for a 'fry up'. That's actually the one thing i don't use it for..

 

[hegley]

Never.

And I don't use an alarm clock to get up either.

I will not be a slave to a timepiece!!

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Never.

And I don't use an alarm clock to get up either.

I will not be a slave to a timepiece!!

I'm loving how angry this is making all of you.

 

[Orang Utan]

Ahh i certainly don't use a timer for a 'fry up'. That's actually the one thing i don't use it for..

me neither! I think it's because you give a fry up your full attention while you're cooking it. Same with risotto.
Pasta and stews and casseroles and other things are less labour intensive, so you go off and do something else until it's ready, and in my case, this necessitates the use of a timer.

 

[jontz01]

Ahhhh. That'll be why then...

When I'm cooking, that's all I'm doing (unless I'm baking/breadmaking).

Me, kitchen, laptop, 6music, wine and/or big green one. It's my chillout time, where I can be doing something constructive that I enjoy and not get an earbashing for chilling...

 

[mr steev]

I use my timer on my phone quite a bit. (Don't wear a watch or have clocks)

I used to have a bit of a reputation for taking ages cooking a meal... probably down to the fact I'd get stuff going, wander off for a spliff break, then have to turn stuff down/off cos I'd still have other things to cook iyswim.

Then I started using my phone timer... all sorted. Now, most times I do set it, I will pick it up thinking thats about the right time and it will go off in my hand

 

[Ms T]

taking a piece out of the pan and trying it is the way to get perfect pasta

too many other factors involved to make timing it the best way - type of pasta, the packet contents vary, the gas pressure, what else is on/in the oven, which pan you're using etc

Yes, but the timer gets you in the right ball park, imo. I usually start trying it a couple of minutes before the timer says it's ready, ifyswim. No timer = overcooked pasta, ime.