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The Sims 3


Cooking
Cooks.jpg
A Young Adult Sim cooking

Not to be confused with Cooking.
Cooking skill icon

Cooking returns as a skill in The Sims 3. The skill is augmented by the natural cook trait and the Born to Cook [TS3:ST] lifetime reward. Perfectionist Sims take longer to cook for better results. Vegetarian Sims learn vegetarian versions of meat dishes. Eco-friendly Sims serve organic dishes. The cooking skill is also an excellent skill for making legendary parties because high quality food makes guests happy.

When a Sim is cooking a recipe with a random ingredient, such as pancakes, they first will try use the ingredient available in their inventory. If there's no eligible ingredient, they will use the first ingredient in the fridge.

Statistics[]

  • Favorite Meal
  • Meal Most Prepared
  • Highest Quality Meal
  • Recipes Prepared
  • Recipes Known

Challenges[]

Star Chef
Star Chefs have prepared at least 50 meals, so they clearly know their way around the kitchen. The dishes they prepare are more pleasing to those that eat them.
World-Class Chef
World-Class Chefs have prepared at least 75 dishes and are masters of the kitchen. World-Class chefs are known to prepare meals significantly faster.
Menu Maven
Menu Mavens have learned to prepare all recipes. Recipes are earned by improving the cooking skill and can be purchased at the bookstore. Menu Mavens prepare higher quality food.

Abilities[]

Better meals give progressively better and longer lasting positive moodlets. The moodlets vary depending on the quality of the meal. The higher the quality, the better the moodlet. Certain foods have special abilities such as ambrosia resetting a Sim's life stage or a lesser effect such as "Warm Fuzzies" from angel food cake. Having flame fruit in inventory also gives a Sim the "Cozy Fire" moodlet.

Once a Sim reaches level 10 of cooking skill, they can cook lobster thermidor. To be able to cook all meals perfectly, the Sim should accomplish the "Menu Maven" challenge, get an upgraded stove or MinusOne Kelvin Fridge, and/or achieve "Star Chef" status.

It is possible to cook food perfectly without having the aforementioned traits, simply by repeatedly cooking the same meal. Though it is tedious, the more a dish is cooked, the better the base will become. It can eventually be raised to perfect, without the need for expensive cooking appliances.

Food quality[]

Most food items in the game (as well as seeds and nectar[TS3:WA]) will have one of 11 possible food qualities, listed from best to worst:

  • Perfect
  • Outstanding
  • Excellent
  • Great
  • Very Nice
  • Nice
  • Normal
  • Bad
  • Foul
  • Putrid
  • Horrifying

Foul and worse is treated as spoiled food, and have a set percentage chance to give the Nauseous moodlet if eaten. Quick meals will always be Normal, unless they're made with the food synthesizer.[TS3:ITF]

Higher qualities can be ensured by increasing the cooking skill level, making more difficult meals, higher-quality kitchen equipment (e.g. fridge, oven), upgrading the food synthesizer, setting the resort buffet table[TS3:IP] to "High" quality, or adding the Super Spice sauce[TS3:UL] to meals that support the sauce.

Recipes[]

Dishes that have a recipe source can be learned in a number of ways.

  • Purchasing and reading recipes from the bookstore. See list of cooking books. Recipes for foods from World Adventures can be purchased from the bookstores in Al Simhara, Champs Les Sims and Shang Simla.
  • Using the 'Trade Cooking Secrets' social interaction. Target Sim must have cooking skill, active Sim must have unknown recipes. In case the target Sim does not have the cooking skill, the active Sim can increase their Logic Skill to 10, and then "Tutor Sims for Skill".[1]
  • Watching "Cookin' Cable" TV channel.[1]

Sims can prepare gourmet pet food once they've reached level 1 of Cooking skill. These recipes count as the number of recipes known, despite being food for pets.

Mealtime[2] Monday-Friday Weekend
Breakfast 01:00 - 11:00
1:00 AM – 11:00 AM
01:00 - 09:00
1:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Brunch Not available 09:00 - 15:00
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Lunch 11:00 - 17:00
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
15:00 - 17:00
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Dinner 17:00 - 01:00
5:00 PM – 1:00 AM
17:00 - 01:00
5:00 PM – 1:00 AM


Image Skill Food Ingredients Cost Serving Time Source Note EP
Waffles 0 Waffles Egg §11 Breakfast
Lunch
N/A &BG
TS3 Icon
Autumn Salad 0 Autumn Salad Lettuce §5 Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
N/A Cold food. Requires no cooking &BG
TS3 Icon
Mac and Cheese 0 Mac and Cheese Cheese §8 Lunch
Dinner
N/A &BG
TS3 Icon
Hot Dogs 0 Hot Dogs Links §8 Lunch
Dinner
N/A Requires a grill or microwave &BG
TS3 Icon
Hot Dogs 0 Tofu Dogs Tofu §11 Lunch
Dinner
N/A Requires a grill or microwave
Vegetarian meal
&BG
TS3 Icon
Pancakes Sims3 1 Pancakes Fruit §6 Breakfast
Brunch
Skill &BG
TS3 Icon
Peanut Butter and Jelly 1 Peanut Butter and Jelly Fruit §6 Brunch
Lunch
Skill Cold food. Requires no cooking &BG
TS3 Icon
Ratatouille 1 Ratatouille Tomato §5 Lunch
Dinner
Recipe &BG
TS3 Icon
Shawarma 1 Shawarma Steak §30 Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Recipe bought from Al Simhara &EP01
TS3WA Icon
Chili Con Carne 1 Chili Con Carne Steak, Ghost Chili §63 Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Spicy meal[3] &EP07
TS3SN Icon
Vegetarian Chili 1 Vegetarian Chili Tofu, Ghost Chili §44 Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Spicy vegetarian meal[3] &EP07
TS3SN Icon
CheesePlate 1 Cheese Plate Cheese, Grape §6 Dessert Recipe Recipe bought from Champs Les Sims &EP01
TS3WA Icon
Grilled Cheese 2 Grilled Cheese Cheese §8 Lunch Skill &BG
TS3 Icon
Goopy Carbonara 2 Goopy Carbonara Onion §11 Lunch
Dinner
Skill &BG
TS3 Icon
Mushroom Omelette 2 Mushroom Omelette Egg, Bell Pepper, White Cap Mushrooms §26 Breakfast
Brunch
Recipe &EP07
TS3SN Icon
EggRolls 2 Egg Rolls Egg, Lettuce §5 Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Recipe bought from Shang Simla &EP01
TS3WA Icon
Hot and Sour Soup 3 Hot and Sour Soup Porcini Mushroom, Ghost Chili §48 Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Spicy meal[3] &EP07
TS3SN Icon
Fish and Chips 3 Fish and Chips Fish §5 Dinner Recipe Can be grilled &BG
TS3 Icon
Fish and Chips 3 Vegetarian Fish and Chips Tofu §11 Dinner Recipe Can be grilled
Vegetarian meal
&EP06
TS3ST Icon
Bouillabaisse 3 Bouillabaisse Fish, Vegetable §5 Dinner Recipe Recipe bought from Champs Les Sims &EP01
TS3WA Icon
FrogsLegs 3 Frogs Legs Frog, Garlic §23 Dinner Recipe Recipe bought from Champs Les Sims &EP01
TS3WA Icon
Cookies 3 Cookies Egg §11 Dessert Recipe &BG
TS3 Icon
Fruit Parfait 4 Fruit Parfait Apple, Grape §12 Breakfast
Brunch
Recipe Cold food. Requires no cooking &BG
TS3 Icon
Spaghetti 4 Spaghetti Tomato §5 Dinner Skill &BG
TS3 Icon
Spaghetti 4 Spaghetti with Veggie Sauce Tomato §5 Dinner Skill Vegetarian meal &BG
TS3 Icon
Sushi 4 Sushi Fish §5 Dinner Skill Cold food. Requires no cooking &BG
TS3 Icon
Sushi 4 Veggi Rolls Tofu §11 Dinner Skill Cold food. Requires no cooking
Vegetarian meal
&EP06
TS3ST Icon
Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich 5 Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich Banana §11 Brunch
Lunch
Recipe &EP06
TS3ST Icon
Cheesesteak 5 Cheesesteak Cheese, Steak §38 Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Can be grilled &BG
TS3 Icon
Cheesesteak 5 Cheese Tofu Steak Cheese, Tofu §19 Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Can be grilled
Vegetarian meal
&EP06
TS3ST Icon
Stu Surprise 5 Stu Surprise 2 Ingredients §10 Dinner Skill &BG
TS3 Icon
Firecracker Shrimp 5 Firecracker Shrimp Honey, Ghost Chilli §54 Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Spicy meal[3] &EP07
TS3SN Icon
Firecracker Tofu 5 Firecracker Tofu Honey, Ghost Chilli §54 Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Spicy vegetarian meal[3] &EP07
TS3SN Icon
Falafel 5 Falafel Lettuce, Onion §15 Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Recipe bought from Al Simhara &EP01
TS3WA Icon
Pumpkin Pie1 5 Pumpkin Pie Egg, Pumpkin §24 Dessert Skill &EP08
TS3S Icon
Hamburger 6 Hamburger Onion, Patty §35 Lunch
Dinner
Skill Can be grilled &BG
TS3 Icon
Hamburger 6 Veggie Burger Onion, Tofu §22 Lunch
Dinner
Skill Can be grilled
Vegetarian meal
&BG
TS3 Icon
Aloo Masala Curry 6 Aloo Masala Curry Tomato, Potato, Ghost Chilli §49 Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Spicy meal[3] &EP07
TS3SN Icon
StirFry 6 Stir-Fry Bell Pepper, Garlic §41 Dinner Recipe Recipe bought from Shang Simla &EP01
TS3WA Icon
Cobbler 6 Cobbler Fruit, Egg §17 Dessert Recipe &BG
TS3 Icon
Eggs Machiavellian 7 Eggs Machiavellian Watermelon, Egg §25 Breakfast
Brunch
Recipe &BG
TS3 Icon
Porcini Risotto 7 Porcini Risotto Onion, Porcini Mushroom §26 Lunch
Dinner
Recipe &EP07
TS3SN Icon
Key Lime Pie 7 Key Lime Pie Lime, Egg §25 Dessert Skill &BG
TS3 Icon
Crepes 8 Crepes 2 Fruits §12 Breakfast
Brunch
Recipe Recipe bought from Champs Les Sims &EP01
TS3WA Icon
Grilled Salmon 8 Grilled Salmon Garlic, Potato, Salmon §48 Dinner Skill Can be grilled &BG
TS3 Icon
Grilled Salmon 8 Vegetarian Grilled Salmon Garlic, Potato, Tofu §45 Dinner Skill Can be grilled
Vegetarian meal
&EP06
TS3ST Icon
Tri-Tip Steak 8 Tri-Tip Steak Potato, Vegetable, Steak §46 Dinner Recipe Can be grilled &BG
TS3 Icon
Tri-Tip Steak 8 Tri-Tip Tofu Steak Potato, Vegetable, Tofu §27 Dinner Recipe Can be grilled
Vegetarian meal
&EP06
TS3ST Icon
French Toast 9 French Toast 2 Apples, Egg §23 Breakfast
Brunch
Skill &BG
TS3 Icon
Dim Sum 9 Dim Sum 3 Fish §15 Brunch
Lunch
Skill &BG
TS3 Icon
Dim Sum 9 Vegetarian Dim Sum 3 Tofus §33 Brunch
Lunch
Skill Vegetarian meal &EP06
TS3ST Icon
Potato and Truffle Torte 9 Potato and Truffle Torte Truffles, Egg, Potato §85 Lunch
Dinner
Recipe &EP07
TS3SN Icon
Stuffed Turkey 9 Stuffed Turkey 2 Vegetables, Roast §40 Dinner Recipe Group Meal only &BG
TS3 Icon
Stuffed Turkey 9 Stuffed Tursoykey 2 Vegetables, Tofu §21 Dinner Recipe Group Meal only
Vegetarian meal
&BG
TS3 Icon
Lobster Thermidor 10 Lobster Thermidor Garlic, Lobster, Bell Pepper §66 Dinner Skill &BG
TS3 Icon
Lobster Thermidor 10 Vegetarian Lobster Thermidor Garlic, Tofu, Bell Pepper §52 Dinner Skill Vegetarian meal &EP06
TS3ST Icon
Ceviche 10 Ceviche Fish, Ghost Chili, Lime §52 Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Spicy meal[3] &EP07
TS3SN Icon
Ambrosia 10 Ambrosia Deathfish, Life Fruit N/A Breakfast
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Recipe Gives "Divine Meal" moodlet, resets age, and revives ghost. Single serving only. &BG
TS3 Icon
Baked Angel Food Cake 10 Baked Angel Food Cake Flame Fruit, 2 Eggs §40 Dessert Recipe Gives "Warm Fuzzies" moodlet &BG
TS3 Icon

If the household has a toy oven, children can bake pastries. They can make muffins (level 1), pie (level 2) and cake (level 3). With Ambitions, they can make blueberry muffins, vanilla muffins, chocolate cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate brownies, caramel brownies, vanilla cupcakes and pie.

Opportunities[]

Title Description Reward
One,Two,Tri-Tip Steaks Prepare a group meal of Tri-Tip Steaks and deliver it to specified Sim neighbor. Cash
Fresh Cookies For Sale! Bake two group serving of cookies and deliver them to the school. Varies
Hot Dogs,Please! Prepare hot dogs and give it to specified Sim neighbor. Cash
Burgelicious Cook burgers and deliver them to specified Sim neighbor. Cash
Borrowing Ingredients Deliver a tomato to specified Sim neighbor.Cash Reward. Relationship Increased
Great Gooey Cheesesteaks Cook Cheese Steak and deliver it to specified Sim neighbor. Cash
Swim Into The Grill Cook Grilled Salmon and deliver it to specified Sim neighbor. Cash
A Life Giving Recipe Prepare Ambrosia and deliver it to the hospital. Cash
From One Chef To Another Share cooking tips with specified Sim neighbor. Cash, Relationship Increased
Burgers For Sims In Uniform Cook burgers and deliver them to the police station.Time Limited. Cash, Relationship Increased
A Favourite Meal Cook specified recipe and deliver it to specified Sim neighbor.Time Limited. Varies
Excellence You Can Taste! Prepare an 'excellent' group meal and deliver it to specified Sim neighbor.Time limited. Varies
The Greatest Food Ever Prepare a 'great' group meal and deliver it to specified Sim neighbor.Time limited. Varies
Nice! Prepare a 'nice' group meal and deliver it to specified Sim neighbor.Time limited. Varies
Very Nice! Prepare a 'very nice' group meal and deliver it to specified Sim neighbor.Time limited. Varies
Perfection From The Pan Prepare a 'perfect' group meal and deliver it to specified Sim neighbor.Time limited. Varies
That's Outstanding! Prepare an 'outstanding' group meal and deliver it to specified Sim neighbor.Time limited. Varies

Achievements[]

The following achievements from The Sims 3 Website can be unlocked through the activities involving cooking skill:

Name Image Type Description Notes & Tips
Bon Appétit! Bon-Appetit Gold Have your Five-Star Chef Sim serve perfect Lobster Thermidors 20 times Requires Level 10 of the Culinary career and Level 10 of the Cooking skill to unlock the recipe
Evil Sweets Evil-Sweets Gold Have a Sim become an Emperor of Evil in the Criminal Career then serve 20 batches of great cookies Requires Level 10 of the Criminal career
Heavenly Warmth Heavenly-Warmth Silver Experience the Warm Fuzzies of Angel Food Cake Prepare the special recipe Baked Angel Food Cake and have your Sim eat it
Pastry Perfect Pastry-Perfect Silver Have your Pastry Chef Sim prepare 5 perfect Key-Lime Pies Requires Level 6 of the Culinary career
Profoundly Perfect Dishes Profoundly-Perfect-Dishes Platinum Have Sims prepare 200 perfect meals
Sturgeon Surgeon Sturgeon-Surgeon Silver Have your Trauma Surgeon Sim prepare Great Sushi Requires Level 6 of the Medical career
The Perfect Chef The-Perfect-Chef Gold Prepare 3 Perfect meals of the following: Grilled Cheese, Hamburger, Stuffed Turkey, Goopy Carbonara, Tri-Tip Steak, and Stew Surprise Requires Level 9 of the Cooking skill to unlock every necessary recipe

Notes[]

  • The Menu Maven challenge actually requires a Sim to learn 28 recipes, the number of recipes available when it was introduced. More recipes were introduced in the World Adventures, Pets, Showtime, Supernatural, and Seasons expansion packs, making it possible for a Sim to complete the skill challenge by raising the Cooking skill alone.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 These methods don't restrict World Adventures recipes from being learned.
  2. http://www.carls-sims-3-guide.com/skills/cooking/recipe-list.php
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Grants either "Spicy" or "Too Spicy" moodlet.
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