2009_07_02-Timer.jpgWe considered posting this very odd gadget as a Hot or Not survey, but decided that wouldn't be quite fair. See, this is just the weirdest thing we've seen in a long time; hot or not hardly applies. It's a pasta timer in the shape of a little man, which gets dropped into the pasta water as it boils. And then it gets really weird: when the water has been boiling long enough, the timer man sings. Sings opera.

Yep, opera. After the little man has been in the water long enough, he sings opera.

The timer is activated by dropping the timer into boiling water (it — errr, he — has a temperature sensor inside). Then after 7 minutes he breaks into song. If you have pasta that needs to be cooked longer he'll switch to other songs at 9 and 11 minutes. Here's a breakdown of his repertoire:

• After 7 minutes: "The Triumphal March" from Aida
• After 9 minutes: "The Chorus of Hebrew Slaves" from Nabucco
• After 11 minutes: "La Donna e Movile" from Rigoletto

Has anyone actually seen one of these pasta timers in action? Does he really sing, and can you hear him if he's underwater?

We think this is a rather silly and odd little gadget, but perhaps it's just the thing for some pasta (and opera?) lover in your life.

• Find it! Al Dente Pasta Timer, $29.95 at Solutions

Related: Quick Tip: The Best Way to Cook Pasta

(Image: Solutions)

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