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The three items, all of which have a matt black finish, have LCD displays. They are packed in a neat cardboard box which also contains the necessary batteries and separate instruction leaflet for each item.

The scales are roughly 220 x 195mm in size and about 10mm tall. No scale pan is provided so items to be weighed are either placed directly on top surface of the scales or in any suitable bowl with a base of up to 16cm or so in diameter. The unit has a maximum capacity of 5kg with a 1g resolution (11lb and one-eighth ounce resolution) and is switched between “units” at the touch on the button with measurements in fl. oz. (fluid ounces) and ml also being offered.

The power button, which is also touch-sensitive, is marked “on-off/zero” and so provides the “tare” function to enable one to make an allowance for the weight of the bowl. It can also be used for zeroing the scales when weighing in ingredients additional to those already in the bowl. As well as switching off manually by touching the button for a few seconds, the scales automatically switch off after 1 minute when the reading is zero or 3 minutes if there is some other reading.

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The four-digit timer is simple to use and goes up to 99 minutes and 59 seconds -- counting up or counting down. Minutes and seconds are each set by their own push button on top of the unit. (Pressing both together resets the timer to zero.) The start/stop button is on the right hand side.

Having magnetic inserts on its rear it can be placed, for example, on the fridge door or, using the built-in stand, placed at a convenient viewing angle on the work bench. However, like the majority of modern timers it does not have the very loud beep that was provided older timers and so it cannot be heard in another room.

With the thermometer, the temperature is measured by the sensor in the tip of its 11.5cm stainless steel probe. The range is -45 to 200degrees C and there is a tiny switch in the battery compartment which enables one to change between Celsius and Fahrenheit where the range is -49 to 392 degrees. In both cases the resolution in 0.1 degree.

The LCD display is in head of the thermometer, which is roughly 40x 35mm and 10mm thick. The on/off push button switch is at the extreme end of the head. When the probe is inserted into a piece of meat, or even a mug of coffee, it measures the temperature continuously and so takes a few seconds to reach the actual final temperature. Hence, having been placed it in the item to be measured and then left for a few seconds for it to stabilise, it only needs to be switched on for a few seconds to take a reading and then switched off to conserve the battery.

There is a warning in the thermometer’s leaflet that one should not put the thermometer in an oven or under the grill together with a reminder that, as the thermometer gets hot when in use, one should only handle it with an oven glove. This is particularly important when using the thermometer to check whether meat is properly cooked.

A table on the front of the instruction leaflet lists the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) minimum safe internal temperatures for different meats, fish and poultry with the probe inserted into the thickest part of the food and not in contact with a bone. There is also a postscript. “Once meat/poultry has reached its final temperature, always rest for a period of at least 3 minutes before carving/serving. For really succulent meat you may wish to rest longer.”

As well as being bought as a present for someone else, the set (model number 1008 GSBKXR) could equally well be bought to update one’s own kitchen tools. Priced at £39.99, but possibly cheaper on Amazon, it is a convenient way of getting equipped with three good quality essentials.