Set the timer to 233 minutes

How to use the online timer

Low and slow cooking rewards patience, and 233 minutes is a realistic stretch for a cut of meat that needs time to break down properly rather than staying tough. Set the timer once the oven's up to temperature, check in occasionally rather than opening the door every ten minutes, and let the last hour do the work of turning something ordinary into something worth the wait. Good braises can't be rushed.

It runs the moment you hit Start, no extra steps needed before the numbers begin moving. Because everything happens inside this browser tab, it needs to remain open while the clock runs; switching tabs is fine, but closing the page or turning off your screen partway through will stop the countdown. A sound marks the finish, so you'll know the moment it's done without having to watch it count down.

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 233 minutes, that works too — press Start and the page does the rest.