Based on nearly identical mechanics to Breath of the Wild, learning how to cook in Tears of the Kingdom goes far beyond just rustling up a few quick meals. There are over 200 TotK recipes to choose from and each variation will deliver buffs and powerups that you will most certainly need as you explore the expansive lands of Hyrule.
That’s even before you start exploring the vast list of Zelda elixir recipes.
From Sáuteed Peppers that will save Link from catching frostbite to Endura Shrooms for that all-important boost in energy, here’s everything you need to know about cooking in Tears of the Kingdom, where to find recipes and some bonus tips to put in your back pocket the next time you load up your Switch.
How To Cook In Tears Of The Kingdom
By cooking ingredients in Tears of the Kingdom, you will find that most meals will double the heart restoration of the ingredients. So, rather than shoving raw meat down Link’s throat, a quick detour to your nearest cooking pot is definitely worth the detour.
By doing so, any ingredients that you collect will be used sparingly and the boosts that you will earn from each meal are, well, boosted. Trust me, you’re going to need to have some heart meals lined up for some of those boss fights.
To cook in Tears of the Kingdom, follow these 5 simple steps:
- Step 1: Find a cooking pot over a burning campfire.
- Step 2: Press [+] to open your inventory
- Step 3: Select some ingredients to hold.
- Step 4: Hold the ingredients next to the campfire.
- Step 5: Press [A] to start cooking.
As soon as you have finished your cooking, there will be an animation on the screen of your food with a supporting jingle. Watching this animation is kind of cute for the first few times. However, once you have had enough of this, you can press [X] to skip the animation.
In addition to making campfires with cooking pots, ingredients such as mushrooms, meats and fruits can also be cooked in the wild. If there is a naked flame, simply head on over to the flame and repeat the steps above to simmer your fruits before the next battle.
What’s more, if you are seeking a guide on how to cook elixirs then simply throw in a monster part or critter into your meal and you’ll be on your way to cooking to most powerful elixirs the game has available right now.
How To View Recipes Tears of the Kingdom
Surprisingly, after our recent TikTok post on the best recipes in Tears of the Kingdom, a large number of commenters were unsure how to view recipes. While not exactly obvious, accessing all recipes in TotK can be achieved via the inventory menu. Here, you will be able to see recipes that can be used with each ingredient in your inventory as well as combinations of different ways to cook your items.
To view recipes in Tears of the Kingdom, follow these 4 simple steps:
- Step 1: Press the [+] button to open your inventory.
- Step 2: Navigate to ”Food Items” in the menu
- Step 3: Move over any food item in your inventory
- Step 4: Press [X] to view recipes
Remember, each meal has multiple recipes that you can explore with each variant providing different boosts. Once you have cooked a recipe using multiple methods, pressing [Y] on the recipe will show a history of the combinations and their subsequent boosts. Here, you will be able to keep track of what combination of ingredients provided the best buffs for Link, saving you time and energy in the future.
TotK Cooking Tips
Cooking in Tears of the Kingdom is almost like a game within itself. From shooting down birds and scavenging the lands of Hyrule for trinkets and treats, there’s a survival element to Tears of the Kingdom which makes it one of the best games in the series to date. If you’re new to cooking, here are some final tips for cooking in TotK to help you on your way.
Our top 5 cooking tips for Tears of the Kingdom include:
- Cooking pots will not work when found in the rain.
- Blend other ingredients that provide buffs.
- Avoid using ingredients with different bonus effects for the same meal.
- Try various recipe methods for different boosts.
- Keep an eye on what recipes deliver the best boosts.
What’s your go-to recipe? Hit the comments below, and don’t forget to check out my other tutorials, roundups and walkthroughs of your favourite games.
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