Odd Gadget: Al Dente Operatic Pasta Timer

We 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

(Image: Solutions)

Comments (21)

OMG, I totally want one!

posted by adiaphane on July 7th 2009 at 1:35pm
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I think it is too weird to NOT be considered cool...

but apparently the battery inside cannot be replaced.

posted by Liana WW on July 7th 2009 at 1:36pm
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Oh this just seems too cool. What a great gift idea!

posted by rosebud on July 7th 2009 at 2:03pm
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But...what about macaroni noodles that only cook for five minutes?

I was hoping pasta man would have a sensor to just know when the pasta was al dente.

posted by katiewalker on July 7th 2009 at 2:03pm
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this is fantastic.

posted by stlellen on July 7th 2009 at 2:12pm
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I WANT ONE

posted by xieta on July 7th 2009 at 2:12pm
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yessssss!

posted by youreacigarette on July 7th 2009 at 2:42pm
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This is so BIZARRE. I kinda want one.

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on July 7th 2009 at 2:50pm
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Heck yes!

posted by jamuka on July 7th 2009 at 3:33pm
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@LianaWW:
Neither can the iPhone's. Vive Opera Man!

posted by vim876 on July 7th 2009 at 6:23pm
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I found a Youtube video of it in action. It's a bit shrill!

posted by RedShoes on July 7th 2009 at 6:25pm
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I watched the video and I wouldn't call it singing... more like an old school ring tone... really cute idea though! I agree that you should be able to set the timer instead of having to hear it beeping for such a long time for longer pasta.

posted by Lafferteezy on July 7th 2009 at 6:41pm
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omg that's hysterical!

posted by lsk on July 7th 2009 at 8:44pm
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Oh goodness... That is awful. Especially if you have to listen to it for a few minutes until your pasta is done!

posted by jamiealyse on July 7th 2009 at 11:54pm
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Probably better than my method of throwing spaghetti against the wall to see if it sticks.

posted by ohiokavr on July 8th 2009 at 8:16am
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Will he stick if you throw him against the wall??

posted by keltrue on July 8th 2009 at 10:33am
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I must have one. I usually don't buy kitchen things with a single purpose, but this little man is beyond my silly little rules.

posted by LizO on July 8th 2009 at 1:00pm
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I thought this would be hilarious for my dad, who is a pasta-making fiend (my parents haven't cooked store-bought pasta in years). But fresh pasta only cooks for a minute or two, so the lack of a set-able timer means this would be utterly useless. :-(

posted by longhornem on July 8th 2009 at 1:00pm
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Oh my goodness.

It's very... creative.

http://www.abreadaday.com

posted by eprewitt on July 8th 2009 at 1:42pm
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File under TOTALLY AWESOME.

posted by m! on July 9th 2009 at 10:41am
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hahahaha fantastic! it's the PERFECT gift for a friend . . . who's wife is an opera singer. (insert evil grin here)

posted by Limeliteshines on July 14th 2009 at 2:06pm
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