Chef Tiffany Derry is a bona fide expert in all things culinary and knows her way around a good cooking tip. The former Top Chef Contestant (two times over) and James Beard nominee has seen it all in the kitchen during her time on television. Not only has she been a contestant, and a judge, but Derry has served as host on shows such asWorst Cooks in AmericaandMasterChef. So, you can trust she knows what she’s talking about.

When I asked her the one tool she would give the chef contestants on her show to improve their cooking, she quickly said, “a timer.” Derry’s first job was as a short-order cook at IHOP. She knows how fleeting the seconds are between success and failure in the kitchen. “Timing is very important. I see people run out of time during competitions because they weren’t using a timer.”

We also agree that using a timer makes everyday kitchen tasks easier and organized, even when you’re not competing on a cooking show. Many people use the oven timer or a physical timer, but since I started using Alexa on my Amazon Echo Show 5I’ve never looked back.

Amazon Echo Show 5

I like Alexa for many reasons. First, you cannot beat the hands-free approach when cooking is messy. With Alexa, you can set multiple timers and name them, so it’ll tell you when it’s time to “take the chicken out of the oven” or “stir the soup.” I like my Echo Show, which has a screen because it will also show you recipes or ratios if you forget how much water to use with a specific type of rice. It is helpful if you are a visual person, but any Alexa-enabled device works.

If you find yourself over- or undercooking dishes, it might be time to revisit the basics. First, ensure your oven is accurate with an oven thermometer, then set a timer. Sometimes, fundamental skills are important than innate cooking talent. It also helps make the kitchen experience much less stressful.

While I love using an Alexa-compatible smart device, there are plenty of basic options available at a lower cost. Some timers offer multiple advanced features, while others are simple, knob-based, old-school timers. Whatever your preference, we test timers in our labs year-round, and our favorite models span every budget and cooking style. Keep scrolling to peruse options.

Shop Kitchen Timers at Amazon

Amazon Echo Dot

Antonki Digital Kitchen Timer, 2-Pack

Hour Hour MOD

Thermoworks Extra Big & Loud Timer

ThermoWorks TimeStack

At the time of publishing, the price was $90.