Possible Clues:

• One's seen in kitchen, say, before good row about start of meal
• Soldiers may rely on one before going for a dip
• One runs out telling you to get cracking!
• It'll help cook get grime scrubbed
• Engineer might agree — not a hot boiler's device
• The sandglass runs for three minutes
• Possible kitchenware gift for one great Cockney couple?
• Sweetheart with horse and part of bomb causes short alarm in kitchen
• It only gives you a few minutes in the kitchen to drive on against the clock
• Cook's hourglass