If I had a chopstick for every time I've burnt my mouth by eating my cup noodles too quickly I'd have enough to build myself a very small oceanfront boardwalk. "Oh!" I'd think to myself, "if only I had a contraption that could properly time the seconds that keep me from enjoying noodle goodness."

The noodle gods (or rather wacky Japanese appliance manufacturers) have created the Ramen Noodle Cup Timer and is made to look like a kitchen burner to count down the obligatory three to four minutes you need to wait after pouring in the boiling water before attacking your meal. Simply place the instant ramen onto the device, set the time, and once you hear the chime you can dig in! Such a specialized device is a bit expensive at 900 yen (about $8) but a burn-free ramen meal is worth every yen. [via TokyoMango]