Who invented the first cooking timer?

It's difficult to pinpoint one inventor for the first cooking timer, as the concept evolved over time.

Here's a breakdown of key milestones:

* Ancient Times: The earliest forms of timekeeping for cooking were likely based on sandglasses or water clocks, but specific uses in cooking are not well documented.

* 16th Century: The concept of a candle timer was popular, with markings on the candle indicating time intervals. These were used for various purposes, including cooking.

* 18th Century: Mechanical clocks became more common, leading to the development of egg timers specifically designed for cooking. These often featured a small bell to signal the end of the cooking time.

* 19th Century: Spring-powered timers emerged, offering more accurate and reliable timekeeping compared to earlier models.

Therefore, there's no single inventor credited with the first cooking timer. It was a gradual development with contributions from various individuals and cultures over centuries.