Your 3 minute timer is ready
The timer is already set to 3 minutes. Press Start and the countdown begins: the digits, the progress bar and the tab title all show the time left. When it reaches zero, the sound rings until you stop it. Three minutes is the classic time for a runny boiled egg, and a handy length for noodles, a round on the heavy bag or a quick stretch.
What a 3 minute timer is good for
- Runny egg: A large egg at room temperature, lowered into boiling water, comes out with a barely set white and a liquid yolk for dipping toast. The egg timer shows it cooking on screen.
- Instant noodles: Most cups and packs ask for about 3 minutes after the boiling water goes in.
- Boxing round: Most professional and amateur boxing rounds last three minutes, with one minute of rest in between.
- Short talk: The Three Minute Thesis contest asks researchers to explain their work in three minutes. It is great practice for any pitch.
- Stretch break: Stand up, roll your shoulders, stretch your back and look away from the screen.
- Calm-down time: A common rule of thumb for young children is one minute per year of age, so three minutes for a three-year-old.
- Plank circuit: One minute of front plank, then one minute on each side.
3 minutes in seconds, and what fits in them
3 minutes is 180 seconds. It is about the length of a classic radio single: many pop hits run between three and four minutes, a habit that goes back to the 78 rpm records that held only about three minutes of music per side.
A tip for your 3 minutes
For a runny egg straight from the fridge, let the timer ring at 3 minutes, then tap +1 min to reach 4. Lower the eggs with a spoon so they do not crack, and serve them right away, because they keep cooking in their shell. Training in rounds? Use the 1 minute timer for the rest in between.
How to use the 3 minute timer
- Press Start. The countdown runs from 3 minutes down to zero.
- Pick a sound if you like. Turn the list to hear a bell, a chime, a classic beep, a digital beep or a gentle rise.
- Switch tabs freely. The countdown follows your device clock and stays exact. Keep this tab open to hear the sound.
- Stop the sound at zero, or tap +1 min if you need a little longer.
Need another length? Turn the minute wheel, or tap the digits and type the time on the keypad. The online timer also has presets for cooking, sport and relaxing, and a full screen mode that makes the countdown readable from across the room.