Inkbird IHT-1S Meat Thermometer Review

Inkbird IHT-1S Instant-Read Meat Thermometer's body and probe totally submerged in ice water displaying 32.9 degrees Fahrenheit on its display

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The Inkbird IHT-1S Meat Thermometer is marketed as an ultra-fast instant-read meat thermometer that has a waterproof rating of IP67.

It also has a 360-degree auto-rotating display screen with a constant backlight. Oh, and you can charge it via a USB cord.

What’s not to like?

Well, the marketing claims of any product need to be in alignment with the real-world performance of the said product.

Inkbird IHT-1S Instant-Read Meat Thermometer displayed with its box

Is the Inkbird IHT-1S meat thermometer as fast and accurate as it claims? And is it truly waterproof?

I’ll tell you right now that the early results in my testing are very good. I feel good about rating it right behind the ThermaPen MK4 and the Classic Super-Fast Thermapen in my rankings of instant-read thermometers.

I don’t arbitrarily throw out rankings and for a newer thermometer to come in and garner a bronze medal says something.

But the Inkbird IHT-1S had to go through some tests first before I awarded it a top-three spot.

As you’ll see, I dunked the IHT-1S in ice-cold water multiple times and tested it against all of my current top-ranked meat thermometers in speed and accuracy tests.

In this review of the Inkbird IHT-1S meat thermometer, I will examine its features, usability, accuracy, durability, and price to see if it’s worthy of a place in your kitchen.

See how the Inkbird IHT-1S compares to the ThermoPro TP620 Instant-Read Meat Thermometer.

Inkbird Meat Thermometer IHT-1S, Instant Read Meat Thermometer Waterproof Digital Cooking Thermometer, Food Candy Thermometer for Kitchen, Food Cooking, Grill, BBQ, Smoker, Home Brewing, CoffeeView Inkbird IHT-1S Meat Thermometer on Amazon

Inkbird IHT-1S Meat Thermometer

The Inkbird IHT-1S Instant-Read Meat Thermometer is the latest addition to the lineup of thermometers from Inkbird.

Inkbird is a large manufacturer of thermometers based in Shenzhen, China. They make a large assortment of highly-rated meat thermometers.

I first became acquainted with Inkbird thermometers after I purchased and reviewed the Inkbird IBT-4XS Bluetooth Meat Thermometer.

That thermometer has now accumulated thousands of positive reviews. I’ve also reviewed the very accurate Inkbird IBBQ-4BW WiFi Meat Thermometer.

All of the Inkbird thermometers I’ve reviewed are very accurate.

When I first saw the Inkbird IHT-1S, it reminded me of another highly-rated meat thermometer in terms of body style and shape. Inkbird IHT-1S and Thermapen MK4 meat thermometers side-by-side

Then I saw that the IHT-1s’s features are also eerily similar and I had to see it for myself.

What are these features? I’m glad you asked.

Features of the Inkbird IHT-1S

Here are the important features of the Inkbird IHT-1S Instant-Read Meat Thermometer.

  • Thermocouple Probe

Thermocouple type sensors are faster and more accurate than thermistor type thermometer sensors. The probe is 4.25 inches long. The temperature measurement range is -58 °F to 572 °F with a readout time of 2 to 3 seconds.

It is rated accurate +-1.0°F.

  • Rated IP67 Waterproof

An IP rating of 67 means that a device can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes with no ill effects.

The Inkbird IHT-1S Instant-Read Meat Thermometer submerged in ice water reading 34 degrees Fahrenheit

I should probably apologize to this thermometer for dunking it in ice water so many times, no hard feelings? Talk to me IHT-1S.

Obviously, you wouldn’t ever want to submerge your thermometer in ice water. I’m just testing the waterproof claim, in an extreme way.

  • 360-degree auto-rotating screen

The screen will rotate the display around 360 degrees using its internal gravity sensor to recognize what angle you’re holding the thermometer.

Displaying the 360-degree rotating display on the Inkbird IHT-1S meat thermometer

Displaying the 360-degree rotating display on the Inkbird IHT-1S meat thermometer.

  • Motion Sensing Auto Wake

This thermometer also has a motion sensor that will turn it on if it’s been dormant with its probe extended.

  • Motion Sensing Backlight

The backlight turns on automatically when the probe is extended and stays on for 15 seconds or until you move it again.

The automatic backlit screen of the Inkbird IHT-1S meat thermometer displaying 118 degrees Fahrenheit in the dark

  • Calibration 

You can enter calibration mode on this thermometer by holding down the HOLD/F/C button for eight seconds.

  • USB Rechargeable Lithium Battery

The IHT-1S can be charged with a USB cord that connects to the thermometer via a port located in a compartment in the end. The compartment can be opened by a screwdriver and is sealed by a rubber gasket to keep water out.

  • 2 Year Warranty

The Inkbird IHT-1S meat thermometer with its included USB cord for charging

Usability

One of the first things that you notice about the Inkbird IHT-1S is the bright backlight that automatically turns on when the probe is unfolded.

This might not seem like a big deal but there aren’t many meat thermometers with this function. Most meat thermometers have a backlight, but you will usually have to press a button.

The backlight will stay on for 15 seconds and then go dormant if you set it down. It is motion-activated so it will turn back on once you move it again.

The IHT-1S’s USB recharging ability is what makes this constant illumination possible. Most meat thermometers run off of standard batteries so having a constant backlight would deplete them pretty fast.

The Inkbird IHT-1S Instant-Read Meat Thermometer submerged in ice water reading 34 degrees Fahrenheit

I should probably apologize to this thermometer for dunking it in ice water, no hard feelings? Talk to me IHT-1S.

The display screen will rotate 360-degrees, which is helpful when you’re approaching food at weird angles.

One thing to note is that there is no tenths decimal place function above 99 degrees Fahrenheit.

Not a huge deal but this is something that both of the ThermaPens feature.

The IHT-1S is easy to use overall but the HOLD/°F/°C button on the front is sensitive and will activate the hold temperature function if you bump it inadvertently.

The accuracy and response time of the IHT-1S is pretty fast and accurate, generally giving you a temperature reading within the reported 2 to 3 seconds.

Just how fast and accurate is the Inkbird IHT-1S meat thermometer? Let’s take a look.

Inkbird Meat Thermometer IHT-1S, Instant Read Meat Thermometer Waterproof Digital Cooking Thermometer, Food Candy Thermometer for Kitchen, Food Cooking, Grill, BBQ, Smoker, Home Brewing, Coffee View Inkbird IHT-1S Meat Thermometer on Amazon

Accuracy

How fast and accurate is the Inkbird IHT-1S meat thermometer? I would say it’s as fast and accurate as advertised.

From left to right: ThermoPro TP-19, Thermapen MK4, Inkbird IHT-1S, Classic Super-Fast Thermapen, Lavatools Javelin PRO Duo meat thermometers all reading 135 degrees Fahrenheit

From left to right: ThermoPro TP-19, Thermapen MK4, Inkbird IHT-1S, Classic Super-Fast Thermapen, Lavatools Javelin PRO Duo meat thermometers all reading around 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the video below, I test the speed and accuracy of the Inkbird IHT-1S against the ThermoPro TP-19 and Lavatools Javelin PRO Duo meat thermometers.

Durability

I like to test a meat thermometer whenever it makes a claim about having any kind of waterproof protection.

Unfortunately for this poor little thermometer, it had to go and make a claim of being IP67 waterproof. An IP rating refers to a device’s level of sealing effectiveness against intrusion from foreign bodies and moisture.

An IP rating of 67 means a device can withstand being submerged in water for 30 minutes and still be functional afterward.

I didn’t leave the IHT-1S in water for 30 minutes but I did submerge it in ice water long enough to take pictures and some video.

Here’s a short clip of me dunking the IHT-1S in some ice water.

The IHT-1S still functioned normally after its dip in the water. I would say it’s pretty durable.

Inkbird Meat Thermometer IHT-1S, Instant Read Meat Thermometer Waterproof Digital Cooking Thermometer, Food Candy Thermometer for Kitchen, Food Cooking, Grill, BBQ, Smoker, Home Brewing, CoffeeSee Reviews on Amazon

Price

The Inkbird IHT-1S’s price tag is currently in the $50 range. That is a really good price considering everything that this thermometer has to offer.

At the time of this review, the IHT-1S is comparable to the Lavatools Javelin PRO Duo in price and significantly less than the two Thermoworks Thermapen models.

I’m not going to say that the Inkbird IHT-1S is just as good as a Thermapen, because it’s not. The Thermapen MK4 and Classic Super-Fast Thermapen meat thermometers are still the fastest and most accurate meat thermometers on the market.

I will say that you won’t find a better meat thermometer under $50.

Final Thoughts

After putting the Inkbird IHT-1S meat thermometer through many performance tests I feel confident enough to say that this thermometer is your best option outside of purchasing a Thermapen.

This might be premature because I’ve had my Classic Thermapen for eight-plus years with no problems. The newer Thermapen MK4 is still the number one meat thermometer with the Classic right behind it.

Like all of the thermometers I review, I will continue to use the Inkbird IHT-1s and report any issues or new information.

Right now, it is a solid thermometer that’s a very close approximation of the Thermapens, albeit a tad less responsive and accurate.

The one thing that will solidify the Inkbird IHt-1s meat thermometer’s place among the best models is more time and more people using it.

The early results are very promising and I think this meat thermometer will find its way into a lot of kitchens.