If you're a keen Old School RuneScape (OSRS) player looking to maximize your in-game profits, you've likely considered profitable cooking methods. Cooking is a versatile and lucrative skill that can generate substantial income. This guide will explore the most profitable cooking methods in OSRS, helping you make the most of your cooking levels and resources.
Before diving into the most profitable cooking methods, it's essential to understand that high-level cooking provides better experience rates and access to more profitable food. Therefore, it's recommended to level up your cooking skill as much as possible before focusing on the following methods.
High-Level Cooking (Level 92+)
At high-level cooking, you can prepare some of the most valuable foods in the game. These dishes require specific ingredients and cooking levels but provide excellent experience rates and profits.
High-level cooking also allows you to participate in the popular 'Nightmare Zone' (NMZ) activity, where you can kill monsters for better rewards and fuel your stamina with high-level food to gain more kills and experience.
Super Restore Potions (Dwarf Weed)
Super Restore Potions, made by cooking Dwarf Weeds with vinegar, restore a significant amount of life points and hitpoints. These potions are highly sought after by players due to their effectiveness in combat, making them a valuable source of income.
To cook Super Restore Potions most efficiently, use the Cooking Gauntlets to reduce the number of-dose requirement and increase the cooking level's experience gained. Additionally, consider using the Penguin Random Event rewards, such as the Cooking Cape, to further boost your experience and reduce the cost of making these potions.
Rocktail soups
Rocktail soups are high-level, restorative foods made by cooking Rocktails (obtained from Fishing at the Karamja Fishling) with various herbs like Ranarr, Tarromin, or Avantoe. The combination of herbs determines the soup's restorative properties and value.
Cooking Rocktail soups provides substantial experience and is especially lucrative when combined with the Herblore skill for creating Restore Potion (4) or Super Restore Potion (4) combinations. The best Rocktail soup combinations for profit are Rocktail with Ranarr (Rocktail soup+) and Rocktail with Avantoe (Rocktail soup++, obtained only at level 96 cooking).
Mid-Level Cooking (Level 68+. Barbarian cooking Gauntlets)
If you're a mid-level cook looking to make substantial profits, the Barbarian cooking Gauntlets can significantly boost your income. These gauntlets, obtainable from the Nightmare Zone or as a drop from Barbarian warriors, reduce the number of doses required to cook various foods.
With the Barbarian cooking Gauntlets, you can effectively cook foods like Carls, Lobsters, Swordfish, and Monkfish steaks, which have high cooking levels and provide excellent experience rates and profits.
Swordfish Steaks
Swordfish steaks are one of the most profitable foods to cook at mid-level cooking, requiring 84 cooking to prepare. Combining the Barbarian cooking Gauntlets and cooking Swordfish Steaks can yield substantial profits and experience.
To further improve your profits, cook Swordfish steaks in bulk and sell them to other players or in the Grand Exchange. Keep in mind that the fish's alch value is relatively low compared to other food items, ranging from 1,000-1,200 coins each. However, the high volume of sales typically outweighs this consideration.
Monkfish Steaks
Monkfish steaks, requiring 90 cooking to prepare, are another lucrative food option at mid-level cooking. Like Swordfish Steaks, Monkfish Steaks benefit from the use of the Barbarian cooking Gauntlets, reducing the number of doses required and increasing profit margins.
Cooking Monkfish Steaks is particularly profitable when combined with theNMZ activity, as the steaks' high restorative properties make them an excellent fuel for repeated monster killing. Selling excess Monkfish Steaks to other players or in the Grand Exchange can further bolster your profits.
Early Game Cooking (Level 40+)
Even at low cooking levels, there are profitable options to consider. By focusing on readily available ingredients and basic cooking levels, you can build up your cooking skill and bankroll simultaneously.
Early game cooking is ideal for new players or those looking to train their cooking skill efficiently without investing too much time and money into high-level ingredients.
Lobster
Lobsters, requiring 45 cooking to prepare, are one of the most profitable foods to cook at early-game levels. Obtainable from Fishing at some fishing spots, Lobsters provide decent experience rates and profits, making them an excellent choice for low-level players.
For the best profit margins, avoid using the Lava lamp or other cooking places with a 50% chance to burn the Lobsters. Instead, use a ranged attack or Protect from Melee prayer to kill sea slugs and other creatures that may attack while fishing Lobsters. This method ensures that you keep all caught Lobsters, maximizing your profits.
Trout
Trout, requiring only 20 cooking to prepare, is an affordable and accessible food option for beginners. Unlike most other foods, Trout can be caught and cooked infinitely without any membership requirements or level restrictions, making it an excellent choice for free-to-play players looking to train their cooking skill.
Cooking Trout is an efficient method to boost your cooking level quickly, as it provides consistent experience rates and relatively decent profits. To further improve your profits, combine Trout cooking with the Fishing skill, gaining Fish pie or Big game pie rewards from Master Fisherman Joe.
Embracing these profitable cooking methods in OSRS will not only help you level up your cooking skill but also generate substantial in-game profits. From high-level Super Restore Potions to early-game Lobsters, there's always an opportunity to cook your way to success in Gielinor. Happy cooking!