If you’re diving into ARK: Survival Evolved, you know that managing your food supply is crucial for survival. One of the best ways to keep your meat fresh longer and gain extra benefits is by making Cooked Meat Jerky. But how exactly do you make cooked meat jerky in ARK? Don’t worry — this guide breaks it down step-by-step in a simple, friendly way to get you jerky-ing in no time!
What Is Cooked Meat Jerky in ARK?
Cooked Meat Jerky is a crafted food item in ARK that lasts longer than regular cooked meat. It’s a great way to preserve your food so it doesn’t spoil quickly, which is especially useful when you’re out exploring or taming dinos. Plus, jerky is an ingredient used in making kibble, which is essential for taming certain creatures.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make Cooked Meat Jerky, you only need three key ingredients:
– Cooked Meat (or cooked fish meat)
– Oil
– Sparkpowder
These are combined in a special crafting station called the Preserving Bin.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Cooked Meat Jerky in ARK
1. Cook Your Meat First
Before you can make jerky, you need cooked meat. You can cook raw meat using a campfire or a cooking pot. Make sure the meat is fully cooked, not raw or spoiled.
2. Gather Oil and Sparkpowder
– Oil can be harvested from oil nodes or creatures like the Oil Vein or obtained through other means in the game.
– Sparkpowder is made by combining Gunpowder and Stone in a Mortar and Pestle.
3. Use the Preserving Bin
The Preserving Bin is the only place where you can turn cooked meat into jerky. Here’s how:
– Place your Cooked Meat in the Preserving Bin.
– Add Oil — you need one unit of oil per piece of meat.
– Add Sparkpowder — this acts as fuel to power the Preserving Bin.
4. Wait for 36 Minutes
Once everything is in the Preserving Bin, it will take about 36 minutes of in-game time for the cooked meat and oil to transform into Cooked Meat Jerky.
Tips for Efficient Jerky Making
– Use Organic Oil: Some players have found that only organic oil works effectively for making jerky.
– Don’t Mix Meat Types: If you want the best results, don’t mix different types of meat in the same Preserving Bin.
– Stock Up on Sparkpowder: The Preserving Bin consumes sparkpowder continuously, so keep extra on hand.
– Make Jerky in Batches: Since it takes time to produce jerky, fill the Preserving Bin with multiple stacks of cooked meat, oil, and sparkpowder to maximize output.
Why Make Cooked Meat Jerky?
– Longer Shelf Life: Jerky lasts about 2 days in-game, much longer than cooked meat.
– Better Nutrition: It provides more food and water restoration than regular cooked meat.
– Taming Ingredient: Jerky is used to make kibble, which is essential for taming higher-level dinosaurs.
– Portable and Convenient: Jerky is lightweight and perfect for long expeditions.
What’s the Difference Between Cooked Meat Jerky and Prime Meat Jerky?
While this guide focuses on Cooked Meat Jerky, it’s worth noting that Prime Meat Jerky is made similarly but starts with prime meat, which is a higher-quality meat obtained from certain creatures. Prime Meat Jerky lasts even longer and provides better stats, but the process is essentially the same: cooked prime meat + oil + sparkpowder in the Preserving Bin.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
– Using raw or spoiled meat will not work — the meat must be cooked and fresh.
– Forgetting to add oil or sparkpowder means the Preserving Bin won’t start the jerky-making process.
– Using the wrong type of oil (non-organic) may cause the recipe to fail.
– Mixing different meats in one Preserving Bin can reduce efficiency or cause spoilage.
Final Thoughts
Making Cooked Meat Jerky in ARK is a straightforward but essential survival skill. With just cooked meat, oil, and sparkpowder in a Preserving Bin, you’ll have a reliable, long-lasting food source that keeps you going on your adventures. So gather your ingredients, fire up that Preserving Bin, and enjoy the benefits of jerky on your next expedition!
Jerky is a game-changer for survival and taming in ARK — once you start making it, you won’t want to go back to plain cooked meat!