Pick and Tick

3 minute timer

Runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.

Like 5m, 90s, or 1:30

How to use the 3 minute timer

  1. The timer opens at three minutes. Press Start when the water goes on the tea or the egg goes in the pan.
  2. Leave the tab open. The timer keeps time even if you switch to another tab.
  3. At zero the alarm beeps for about ten seconds.
  4. Press Restart for another three minutes, or R to reset.

What a 3 minute timer is good for

  • Steeping tea

    Three minutes suits most black teas. Green tea usually wants less, around two minutes, and herbal teas more. Start the timer as you pour.

  • A soft-boiled egg

    A "three-minute egg" lowered into boiling water has a just-set white and a runny yolk. Large eggs, or eggs straight from the fridge, may need a minute more.

  • Debate turns

    Three minutes is a common length for rebuttals and short speeches in school debates. The pie lets the speaker see what's left without turning around.

Questions

Does the timer keep going if I switch tabs while cooking?

Yes. It works from the moment it will end, not by counting ticks, so it stays right in a background tab, and the alarm is scheduled ahead so it sounds on time. On iPhone and iPad, keep this tab open, because Safari pauses hidden tabs.

My tea needs four minutes. Can I change it?

Press +1 min, or type 4m in the Time box and press Set. A link like pickandtick.com/#4m opens the main timer at four minutes, so you can bookmark your own time.

How do I time a debate with three speakers?

Press Restart when each turn ends to start the next speaker's three minutes. Tick "Count up after zero" to see how far a speaker runs over.

Can I hear the alarm from another room?

The alarm is a loud beep that repeats for about ten seconds, at your device's volume. Turn the volume up before you start, and keep the device near you.