Cooking in The Legend of Zelda games, especially in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, is not just a fun side activity-it’s essential for survival, boosting your health, stamina, and even granting special effects. If you’ve ever wondered, how do you cook in Zelda?, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to become a master chef in Hyrule.
Why Cooking Matters in Zelda
Cooking transforms raw ingredients into meals that restore hearts, increase stamina, or provide buffs like resistance to cold or heat. Unlike simply eating raw food, cooked dishes often have enhanced effects and can help you tackle tougher enemies and harsh environments. Plus, experimenting with recipes can yield powerful meals that give you an edge on your adventure.
What You Need to Start Cooking
To cook in Zelda, you need two basic things:
– Ingredients: These can be fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, mushrooms, and even monster parts.
– A Fire Source: Usually a campfire or a cooking pot over a fire.
In Breath of the Wild, cooking pots are found near villages, stables, and campsites. For example, you can find pots outside the Old Man’s cabin on the Great Plateau or near the shop in Kakariko Village.
In Tears of the Kingdom, open-lid cooking pots are scattered around populated areas like horse stables and shelters.
If you don’t have a pot nearby, you can light a campfire yourself using flint and wood, or use a torch to transfer fire to a pot.
How to Cook Step-by-Step
Here’s a simple step-by-step process to cook meals in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom:
- Find a Fire or Cooking Pot: Locate a cooking pot over a fire or build a fire yourself.
- Open Your Inventory: Press the menu button and go to your ingredients tab.
- Select Ingredients: Highlight an item and press the button to ‘Hold’ it. You can hold up to five ingredients at once.
- Approach the Pot: Walk up to the cooking pot or fire.
- Cook: When close enough, a prompt will appear to cook. Press the button to start cooking.
- Wait: After a few seconds, your ingredients will turn into a cooked meal or elixir.
If you add monster parts or incompatible ingredients, the meal might turn out bad, so experiment wisely.
Tips for Better Cooking
– Use a Meat Base: Many dishes start with raw meat or fish as the base ingredient.
– Add Seasonings: Items like herbs, carrots, or salt can boost the effects or change the dish’s properties.
– Mix Similar Ingredients: Combining similar items often yields better results. For example, mixing bass and mushrooms can create a fish and mushroom skewer.
– Avoid Mixing Insects with Food: Insects usually spoil your meals, so keep them for elixirs instead.
– Experiment for Buffs: Some ingredients add special effects like increased stamina, heat resistance, or stealth.
Cooking Without a Cooking Pot
In Tears of the Kingdom, you can use a special item called the Portable Pot. This one-use tool summons a cooking pot wherever you are, allowing you to cook on the spot without needing to find a stable or campfire.
What Are Elixirs and How Are They Different?
Elixirs are another type of concoction you can make by cooking, but they require different ingredients like insects, amphibians, and monster parts. Unlike meals, elixirs don’t restore hearts but provide buffs such as increased stamina or climbing ability. To make elixirs:
– Combine monster parts with critters like bugs or frogs.
– Cook them in the same way as meals.
– Experiment to discover new effects and recipes.
Popular Recipes to Try
– Hearty Mushroom Skewer: Mushrooms + hearty ingredients for full health restoration.
– Spicy Meat and Seafood Fry: Meat + spicy peppers to resist cold.
– Enduring Elixir: Monster parts + stamina-boosting critters for longer stamina.
The game encourages you to try different combinations to discover your favorite recipes and effects.
Final Thoughts
Cooking in Zelda is simple once you know the basics: find a fire, hold your ingredients, and cook! With practice, you’ll unlock powerful meals and elixirs that make your journey through Hyrule much easier and more enjoyable.
Master the art of cooking, and you’ll be ready for any challenge that comes your way in the vast world of Zelda.
Enjoy your culinary adventure!