Set the timer to 227 minutes

How to use the online timer

A slow cooker set for 227 minutes is meant to be left alone, which is exactly why a separate timer running on your phone or laptop is handy for knowing when to check back in. Start it when you switch the cooker on, get on with your day, and come back to lift the lid only once the countdown's finished rather than every hour. Patience pays off with slow-cooked food.

Using it is as simple as it sounds: hit Start and the countdown takes over from there. Keep the browser tab open while it runs, since the timer only keeps counting while the page stays loaded, and pause or reset it any time if your plans change. When time's up, a sound plays to let you know, so you don't need to keep glancing at the screen.

Setting an egg timer or fumbling with a phone app both work, but neither is as quick as a browser tab you already have open. There's no app store, no update prompt, and no login screen between you and starting the count. It's free and needs no registration, it works on any device with a browser, and closing other tabs won't affect it as long as this one stays open. If you would rather say put a timer on for 227 minutes, that works too — press Start and the page does the rest.