Pasta Timer
Best for: Best as a fun gift for pasta lovers who'll enjoy the novelty — less reliable as your only kitchen timer if your kitchen is loud or you're not nearby to listen for it.
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TidyHacks verdict
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Our review
A floating timer shaped like a tiny mobster that sings four Italian-themed tunes — 'That's Amore,' the Godfather theme, a tarantella and a prisoners' chorus — at 3, 7, 9 and 11 minutes is exactly as charming as it sounds, and at 4.2 stars from nearly 1,000 ratings, most buyers treat it as a gift first and a useful timer second.
Drop it into the boiling water with your pasta and it floats happily in any position rather than needing to stand upright, and reviewers confirm the timing lines up with the package's intervals once the water's at a proper boil. It rinses clean afterwards. As a gift it consistently lands well — repeat buyers purchase multiples for family and gift exchanges. The one issue raised consistently enough to matter, confirmed by reviewers in the US and Mexico, is volume: the melodies are genuinely quiet, 'almost inaudible' to some, so you need to be near the pot or in a quiet kitchen to hear it. One reviewer also found the timing ran a minute or more early on a hard boil, suggesting the heat sensor is more accurate at a gentler simmer, and noted it needs a reasonably tall pot to float. For a fun pasta-themed gift that also works as a timer in a quiet kitchen, it delivers — just don't expect it to beat a loud digital timer in a busy one.
👍 Pros
- Charming, well-themed gift — four recognisable Italian tunes, not a generic beep
- Floats in any position, in cold or hot water
- Timing matches the stated intervals at a proper boil
- Made in Germany to EU quality standards
- Consistently a hit as a gift — repeat buyers get multiples
👎 Cons
- Volume is the top complaint — genuinely quiet, confirmed across countries
- Needs a reasonably tall pot with enough water to float
- One reviewer found timing ran early on a vigorous boil
- Fixed 3/7/9/11-min intervals only — not user-adjustable
Specifications
| Brand | Brainstream |
|---|---|
| Origin | Made in Germany |
| Melodies | 4 fixed intervals — 3, 7, 9, 11 minutes |
| Material | Plastic, food-safe |
| Height | 3.94in (4.5in per one reviewer's measurement) |
| Use | Floats in cold or hot/boiling water, any position |
| Price | $24.99 |
FAQ
Will I actually hear it sing over a busy kitchen?
Maybe not — volume is the most consistently reported weakness, confirmed by reviewers in multiple countries as genuinely quiet.
Does it have to float upright to work?
No — it works in any position, including floating face-down, as long as it is in the water.
Is the timing accurate?
Mostly, according to most reviewers, though one detailed review found it ran about a minute early during a vigorous boil.
Can I set it for a custom cook time?
No — it only plays at the 4 fixed intervals (3/7/9/11 minutes) printed on the packaging.
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