Cooking meat in ARK: Survival Evolved is one of the essential skills every survivor needs to master. Whether you’re new to the game or looking to improve your survival tactics, knowing how to cook meat will keep your character healthy and ready for adventure. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about cooking meat in Ark, from the basics to handy tips for maximizing your food’s benefits.
Why Cook Meat in Ark?
Raw meat might seem like an easy snack, but it’s not the best choice for your survival. Cooking meat in Ark offers several advantages:
– Better Nutrition: Cooked meat restores more hunger and health than raw meat.
– Safety: Cooking kills harmful bacteria and parasites that can make your character sick.
– Preservation: Cooked meat lasts longer before spoiling compared to raw meat.
– Taming Aid: Cooked meat is often required or preferred when taming certain creatures.
Mastering cooking means you’ll stay healthier and have a reliable food source during your adventures.
What You Need to Cook Meat in Ark
To start cooking meat, you’ll need two basic things:
– Raw Meat: Obtained by hunting creatures and harvesting their meat.
– Cooking Equipment: The most common are the Campfire and the Industrial Grill.
Campfire
The campfire is the simplest and earliest cooking tool you can craft. You’ll need:
– 12 Thatch
– 1 Flint
– 16 Stone
Once built, place raw meat and fuel (like wood or thatch) into the campfire’s inventory and light it. The meat will cook over time, turning into cooked meat after about 20 seconds per piece.
Industrial Grill
The industrial grill is a more advanced cooking station that cooks meat faster and in larger quantities. It requires more resources to build but is well worth it for bigger tribes or longer expeditions.
How to Cook Meat in Ark: Step-by-Step
Here’s a simple process to cook meat effectively:
- Gather Raw Meat: Hunt dinosaurs or other creatures to collect raw meat.
- Build Your Cooking Station: Either craft a campfire or an industrial grill.
- Add Fuel: Place wood, thatch, or other burnable materials into the cooking station.
- Add Raw Meat: Put the raw meat into the cooking station’s inventory.
- Light the Fire: Ignite the campfire or turn on the grill.
- Wait for Cooking: Meat will cook automatically over time. Each piece takes about 20 seconds at a campfire.
- Collect Cooked Meat: Once cooked, the meat will appear as “Cooked Meat” in the inventory, ready to eat or use for taming.
Different Cooking Methods in Ark
While the campfire and industrial grill are the primary methods, Ark also offers other ways to prepare meat:
– Cooking Pot: Mainly used for making recipes like soups and stews, but can also cook meat when combined with water and other ingredients.
– Boiling: Using a cooking pot with water to boil meat, which is useful for some recipes.
– Grilling: Cooking meat directly over an open flame adds flavor and is quick.
Each method has its perks, but for straightforward cooked meat, the campfire and industrial grill are your go-to choices.
Tips and Tricks for Cooking Meat in Ark
To get the best results from your cooking, keep these tips in mind:
– Avoid Overcooking: Leaving meat on the fire too long will turn it into jerky or charcoal, which have different uses but won’t restore as much hunger.
– Cook Multiple Types Together: You can cook different kinds of meat simultaneously in the campfire or grill to save time.
– Use Cooked Meat for Taming: Some creatures prefer cooked meat, so keep a supply handy for taming expeditions.
– Keep Fuel Ready: Always have wood or thatch nearby to keep your cooking fire going.
– Experiment with Recipes: Combine meat with vegetables or other ingredients in a cooking pot to create better food items with added benefits.
What Happens If You Don’t Cook Meat?
Eating raw meat in Ark can lead to negative effects like food poisoning, which drains your health over time. Cooked meat eliminates this risk and provides a more substantial health and hunger boost, making it a safer and smarter choice for survival.
Summary Table: Cooking Meat Methods in Ark
| Cooking Method | Equipment Needed | Cooking Time | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campfire | Campfire, fuel | ~20 seconds per meat | Easy, early-game accessible |
| Industrial Grill | Industrial Grill, fuel | Faster than campfire | Efficient, cooks large batches |
| Cooking Pot | Cooking Pot, water | Varies (longer) | Used for recipes, boiling meat |
Final Thoughts
Cooking meat in Ark is simple but crucial for your survival. With just a campfire or an industrial grill, you can turn raw meat into a nutritious and safe meal that keeps your character strong and ready for the challenges ahead. Keep your cooking stations fueled and your meat cooking, and you’ll thrive in the wild world of Ark.
Happy cooking and surviving out there!