How to Cook
In The Sims 3, cooking can be performed using various cooking devices like stoves, grills, and microwaves. Food can be magically purchased directly through the refrigerator, but some of the more advanced recipes require ingredients that can only be grown in a garden or caught by fishing. Ingredients can also be purchased from the grocery store. When cooking in The Sims 3, a higher skill level in cooking decreases the chance that you will set the kitchen on fire.
Recipes
| Name | Where to Learn | Special |
|---|---|---|
| Mac and Cheese | Default | |
| Autumn Salad | Default | No oven required |
| Waffles | Default | |
| Hot Dogs/Tofu Dogs | Default | Can be made on outdoor grill |
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| Ratatouille | Recipe book (Level 1) | |
| Peanut Butter and Jelly | Level 1 Skill | No oven required |
| Pancakes | Level 1 Skill | |
| Goopy Carbonara | Level 2 Skill | |
| Grilled Cheese | Level 2 Skill | |
| Fish and Chips | Level 1 Skill | Can be made on outdoor grill |
| Cookies | Recipe book (Level 3) | |
| Fruit Parfait | Recipe book (Level 4) | No oven required |
| Spaghetti/Spaghetti with Veggie Sauce | Level 4 Skill | |
| Sushi | Level 4 Skill | No oven required |
| Stu Surprise | Level 5 Skill | |
| Cheesesteak | Recipe book (Level 5) | Can be made on outdoor grill |
| Hamburger/Veggie Burger | Level 6 Skill | Can be made on outdoor grill |
| Cobbler | Recipe Book (Level 6) | |
| Key Lime Pie | Level 7 Skill | |
| Eggs Machiavellian | Recipe Book (Level 7) | |
| Grilled Salmon | Level 8 Skill | Can be made on outdoor grill |
| Tri-Tip Steak | Recipe Book (Level 8) | Can be made on outdoor grill |
| Stuffed Turkey | Recipe Book (Level 9) | Can only be made in multiple servings |
| French Toast | Level 9 Skill | |
| Dim Sum | Level 9 Skill | |
| Baked Angel Food Cake | Recipe Book (Level 10) | Grants Warm Fuzzies moodlet: +15 mood for 5 hours |
| Ambrosia | Recipe Book (Level 10) | Grants Divine Meal moodlet: +75 mood for 7 days, resets Sim's age (as if he/she just aged up from previous stage), revives a ghost that eats it. Single serving only. Read how to make ambrosia. |
| Lobster Thermidor | Level 10 Skill | |
Traits that Help with Cooking
Natural Cook
A Natural Cook will make higher quality foods, learn the cooking skill more quickly, and can't burn any foods. Furthermore, the Natural Cook has the Kick it up a Notch interaction that he or she can use on finished foods or foods in progress. This increases the food quality by one level. Natural Cooks naturally cook higher quality food to begin with.
Angler
Useful for catching the fish that are required for some recipes.
Vegetarian
Chefs with this trait will automatically cook the veggie alternative to any dish that has an alternative. But keep in mind that some dishes can't be made meat-free, and if a vegetarian Sim eats it, he or she will throw up.
Green Thumb
Helpful for growing ingredients needed for advanced recipes.
Perfectionist
Sim will spend more time on cooking but as a result will make higher quality meals.
Cooking Challenges
Star Chef
After cooking 50 meals, your Sim's food will grant a better moodlet boost to those who eat it.
World-Class Chef
After cooking 75 meals, your Sim will cook more quickly.
Menu Maven
After learning all of the recipes in the game, your Sim will cook higher quality food.
Cooking Opportunities
Cooking Contest
Get cash for preparing a meal and dropping it off at the restaurant. Higher-quality food is more likely to win.
Prepare Meal
Prepare a perfect meal and give it to the specified neighbor.