XREXS 5 Channels Digital Kitchen Timer, Clock Mode with Large LCD Display, Cooking Timer, Loud Volume Alarm and Flashing Light with Magnetic Back, Stand, Battery Included

This is a replacement for an identical unit (albeit with a different brand name painted on it) that we used for many years until it fell in a sink full of water. These are not waterproof!The number buttons make it very easy and quick to set the desired countdown time. You can also easily start it to count up. The alarm is loud enough to hear anywhere in our modest apartment. The display is large enough without being obnoxious, and is about as readable as an unlit monochrome LCD can be -- fine for the kitchen. Despite being easy to read and control, the timer does not take up much space.This is only a timer, not a clock. That is a good thing. You never have to set the time, and it automatically shuts off a little while after you stop the timer, so the batteries last a very long time. We have plenty of clocks on other appliances and our phones, so we don't miss one here.I would not recommend using the magnet to hold this timer on an appliance, because the magnet projects far out from the center of the back of the timer. If you push any of the buttons towards either side of the timer, that will rock the timer and pop the magnet off the surface of the appliance. You could just stick the timer there and pull it off to push the buttons, but that might be tricky to do without using two (clean and dry) hands.Instead, we use the fold-out leg that stands the timer up. That makes it easily accessible, but not particularly stable, because it is lightweight and the leg supports it at only one point behind the timer. We usually grab it to press the start or stop button with a pinching motion with fingers behind the timer and a thumb pressing the button. This would be hard to do if it were stuck to a metal appliance, because there is not enough space to get your fingers behind the timer without popping it off the appliance. We do usually hold or pick it up to press the number buttons using two hands -- not because they require much pressure to push, but because the timer will scoot around or fall over if you just push at a button from the front. I bent a paperclip into a shape to hold the fold-out leg a little further away from the body than the built-it clip does. That makes it slightly more stable.Finally, I like the reasonably large, soft, long-travel buttons. They are not the smooth, clicky membrane switches found on many devices. Membrane switches are easier to clean and are potentially waterproof, but I find the buttons on this timer easier and more pleasant to press, cleaning was really never an issue, and they worked reliably for years.So while the stand and magnet could be improved, and making it waterproof would be nice, this still seems like the best simple kitchen timer I can find.

We mostly use this kitchen timer because we soak our dog's kibble at each of three meals a day for 20 minutes. We set to time once (just have to press 2-0-0-0) , and hit start. When the alarm beeps just press "STOP," beeper stops and timer resets to 20 minutes ("20:00" on the display), and is ready to go for the next meal. After a while the display shuts off, saving the batteries (two AAA).The only negative is that the alarm is LOUD even though it is on the back of the unit underneath the flip-up hanging tab. Our home is quiet so I cut slip of paper off the sticky edge of a post-it note, punched one very small hole in the center, and stuck it over the alarm 'speaker' openings. Perfect! If you are always near the timer when it alerts, you can do the same without the hole and you will still hear it.We got the "upgraded" version which features H:M:S (and not just M:S). The upgrade also has a flashing Red LED when the alarm sounds, of use the mute switch to only have the LED alert you.I do not expect the original batteries to last very long, but so what? Change to quality cells when they die.It is only $13. What are you waiting for?EDIT: We have been using this alarm for a few days and have found it very useful. The alarm sounds for about 1 minute (we did nit time it). First with a series of single beeps, then double, then triple, then a steady beep then stops and the timer shuts off the display. So even if you are in another room you do not have to run to shut it off.When needed next time, just press the "start button, the display comes on and you will find the last set time ready to use again with one more press of the start button.It is the most intuitive kitchen alarm we have ever had.

This is in my top 5 list of best timers, with a couple of reservations.THE GOOD* LOUD: The alarm is good and loud.* KEYPAD: It has a 0 to 9 button keypad, for quick entry of numbers* FLASHING LIGHT: It has a red flashing light, for visual alert your time has expired.* SILENT OPTION: You can turn alarm sound off and just use the flashing light as alert, which is good when you need silence in exam, at home, or in public place* SILENT BUTTON PRESSING: If you switch off alarm sound, then the keypad is also silent. This is a BIG feature for me, as it means you can set it without pissing off your spouse, neighbours, or other people in cafe.* LONG ALARM: The alarm sounds for about a minute, I think, so it is hard to ignore or miss it. Another BIG feature for me.* STAND AND LANYARD HOLE: It has a simple effective foldaway stand for sitting on desk, and a hole for a lanyard, so it is quite flexible for different situations.* 99 HOURS: It counts down from 99hr, 99m. Very important. Can set reminders in the morning for that evening, or even a reminder today for tomorrow. These are not possible with 9 hours, or 99 minutes timers.THE RESERVATIONS* NO COUNT UP AFTER EXPIRES: When time expires, some other timers will start counting up, so you know if you missed the timer by 1 minute or 3 hours. This is important for me, as I often don't hear timers, even when they are very loud and next to me.* NO SCREEN LOCK: This means that if you put in pocket or hang on lanyard, you can easily knock it and either turn it on (embarrassing when in public or at work) or turn it off (so you can't trust the alarm to work if you carry it, cause always a chance you will knock it).* MEMORY DIFFERENT: The memory (of the previous count down setting), works a little different to most other timers. Normally first press of stop/reset button stops the alarm, and send press resets the time to memory, and then you would press start. For this the press to stop alarm also resets time to memory. If you press stop/reset again, you wipe the memory. So my reflexes often accidentally wipe the memory of this.* NO LIGHT: it has no built in light to view screen, so in the dark (eg. Bed, outside at night), you need a torch or light to see the display.Overall, I'm pretty happy with it.