As the recent 'Direct' video presentation released by Bethesda made abundantly clear, the makers of Starfield obsess over food. In nearly every nook and cranny of the Settled Systems, some form of food and beverage can be found. And aside from the already-prepared food that is constantly weighing down the backpacks and cargo holds of the universe, Starfield features a robust system for cooking and crafting a huge variety of edible items.
The benefits of the cooking system in Starfield, though mentioned early in the game, are never fully explored through any guided quest or tutorial. Players who dive head-first into the system will discover that some of the game's best items can be crafted at any cooking station. This guide will provide players with the easy-to-follow tutorial that will vastly improve how food is used in Starfield.
Where to Cook in Starfield
The first step to getting the most out of food in Starfield, is through knowing where the cooking and crafting is done. Very early in the game, the player will be introduced to the Lodge, Constellation's home base in New Atlantis. The basement of this building provides the player with every crafting station available in the game, all in one convenient location.
To find the cooking station, the player must first become a full member of Constellation. All members of the group will be provided with a copy of the Lodge Key, which opens the door to the basement area. In the corner of the basement, just before the corridor that leads out of the laboratory area, the player will find a cooking station.
Once players know what they are looking for, they will begin to find cooking stations throughout the Settled Systems. They can be found on ships, in settled cities, and even in enemy outposts. The more the player explores, the more they will find. Players can even create their own outposts on their favorite planets, with the option to build cooking stations wherever they choose.
How to Cook in Starfield
Cooking in Starfield is a relatively straightforward task. Simply approach a cooking station, and press A (or PC equivalent) to interact. This will pull up the cooking station menu, giving the player access to whatever recipes they currently have available.
In the early section of the game, there will a limited number of recipes available to the player. These can be seen as something like tutorial foods, as they do not provide much in the way of health or other boosts. However, as the player makes their way through the game, it is possible to unlock more recipes using skills and research.
Using the above image as an example, players can see that the Ham and Cheese Sandwich requires the following ingredients:
- 1 Bread
- 1 Synthmeat Ham
- 1 Cheese
Eating it will provide the following effects:
- Restores 5 Health
- +8 Oxygen Level for Five Minutes.
Press A to craft, and then find the item in the Aid section of the inventory to receive the benefits. The effects of these food items may seem trivial to advanced players, but it is important to remember that this recipe is available from the start of Starfield. Better dishes will become available throughout the game.
How to Unlock New Recipes in Starfield
Unlocking new recipes requires the use of two main systems: Skills and Research. These two mechanics work in conjunction, with each new skill level allowing more recipes to be researched.
For cooking, the primary skill that players will want to invest in will be Gastronomy. Each level of this skill will unlock the ability to research higher tier food. Level 2 will unlock the ability to research and cook gourmet items, while Level 3 will unlock delicacies.
How research works in Starfield:
Research is the blanket term for all work done at any Research Station in Starfield. At this station, players will invest materials into projects that will unlock the ability to craft at a variety of stations. In this case, players will want to visit the Food and Drink section.
The Food and Drink section has three categories with two tiers each when the player first visits. Looking at the available data, the player will see which recipes they can unlock, the ingredients required to do so, and the skills required for researching that particular tier.
When adding materials, there is the possibility that a special bonus will occur known as a Sudden Development. These occurrences will spontaneously add materials to the current project, even if the player does not have them in their inventory. There is no known criteria for this happening, though it is possible to increase the chances of Sudden Development by using the Neurajack chem.
Completing a Research Project will make that item available for crafting at the appropriate crafting station.
It is possible to lower the amount of resources required for Research by taking the Synapse Alpha chem. The Neurajack chem does the same, but includes a 50% increase in the chances for Sudden Developments. Both chems last for ten minutes.
As players advance through skills and research projects, they will find interesting connections between the two. The Zoology and Botany skills, for example, will allow players to get easier access to certain ingredients, making projects much easier. Experiment with different meals and boosts to see what suits each playstyle best.
Starfield is available now on Xbox Series X/S and PC.