Customer Reviews

Presto 04213 Electronic Digital Timer

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

Length:: 1:06 Mins

Pros:
- inexpensive
- loud-ish alarm
- simple
- AAA battery
- strong magnet on back

Cons:
- 1hr 39min is the longest time that can be set
- not the highest build quality
- only one timer
- how durable will it be??

This is a no-frills kitchen timer. It hits the essential points and a good price point. Most importantly the alarm is loud enough that you can hear it from another room. I also like the fact that the magnet on the back is larger than most and has good staying power on the fridge. My last time would slide down the fridge.

I do wish it could time longer periods than 1 hr 40 min. This makes it not usable for slow cook recipes.

The build quality isn't great. The display does flicker if you push the buttons firmly. I don't know how long it will last, but I will put it to the test. I got it mostly so my kids can time themselves for cleanup time. It will be abused for sure!

As another reviewer mentioned it does "beep" each time a button is pushed, but my previous timer also did this. I don't find it annoying.



If you found this review helpful, let me know with your vote. :)

This 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 put the timer in the washer and it had died. Putting 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.

This timer is just as described. It's easy to use, the magnet is strong and the sound is definitely loud enough. If I had to give a complaint I would say that because the timer doesn't turn off by itself the loud noise can be annoying until you make it back to the kitchen. If that's a problem, clip it to your pants and keep it with you.

We went through several timers before finding this one. Some do too much and are too complicated. Yes, a simple timer too complicated. On one, we couldn't figure out how to clear unused time. This one is simple and easy to figure out, a welcome relief in the morass of electronic complexity.

This is essentially a small, easy to operate timer that has a nice loud buzzer. The buzzer will continue to beep after the time is up, in approx. 2 second increments.

It seems worth noting that every time you hit a button it beeps, making its use in a somewhat quiet room a little annoying.

Also, it does not have an on/off switch. Once the batteries are in, its on.

Regardless of a few flaws, it is a good timer for the price and serves it's purpose well.

I like this timer very much. It's uncomplicated to use and the magnetic strip on the back is helpful for me. I use it in the gym to time my workouts or rest periods, and there are plenty of metal objects on which to attach it. I can also see it being very useful in the kitchen or for other sporting events. I've bought two of these.

This is a great little timer. As a teacher, I can use it in my classroom during many different activities.

This is a good little timer. But there's no on/off switch, so it stays on all the time. BUt I don't think it's a significant drain on the battery. Just beware and don't waste your time looking for the on/off.

This timer makes a horrible noise WHILE you are setting it? Why? None of my other timers -- and I have many (I am a bit strange in that regard) -- make ANY noise to set. Why do I have to listen to an awful alarm while I am setting it? If you want to set it for 4 minutes and 45 seconds, say, you set the 4, ok not awful 4 beeps, but to set the 45 you hold down the button and it shrieks at you BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP the whole time the numbers are moving to 45. UGH, annoying. I bought two of them and I have half a mind to throw them in the trash.

I got this timer after my old timer, which I'd had for years, finally gave out. This is a basic timer, but has a nice display, which makes keeping an eye on it easy. My older timer had several buttons, one for each number, which I miss, but it's not that big of a deal to only have min/sec buttons. You set it much like you would a clock radio and then let it go. Very easy to use. I am happy with this purchase.