Cooking (The Sims 3)

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Cooking

A Young Adult Sim cooking

Not to be confused with Cooking.


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 theingredient available in their inventory. If there's no eligible ingredient, they will use the first ingredient in the fridge.

Statistics[edit | edit source]

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

Challenges[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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.

Recipes[edit | edit source]

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

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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! 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 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 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 Silver Have your Pastry Chef Sim prepare 5 perfect Key-Lime Pies Requires Level 6 of the Culinary career
Profoundly Perfect Dishes Platinum Have Sims prepare 200 perfect meals
Sturgeon Surgeon Silver Have your Trauma Surgeon Sim prepare Great Sushi Requires Level 6 of the Medical career
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[edit | edit source]

  • 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[edit | edit source]

  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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