In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), cooking is one of the most essential and beginner-friendly skills in the game. Whether you’re baking pies, cooking sharks, or making wines, leveling up your Cooking skill can bring in solid profits and XP. But when it comes to reaching certain level requirements or maximizing your efficiency, you might be wondering: What’s the best cooking boost in OSRS?
In this article, we’ll break down all the Cooking boosts in OSRS, how they work, when to use them, and answer the most common questions players have.
What Is a Cooking Boost in OSRS?
A Cooking boost in OSRS is any item or method that temporarily raises your Cooking level. Boosts are often used to meet skill requirements for certain quests, cook higher-level food earlier than your current level allows, or unlock specific in-game content.
There are both temporary boosts (such as foods or potions) and permanent boosts (like skillcape perks) that affect Cooking in different ways.
Why Use a Cooking Boost?
There are several reasons players use a Cooking boost in OSRS:
- To cook higher-level food like sharks, sea turtles, or anglerfish before reaching the required level
- To complete quests or diary requirements involving high Cooking levels
- To speed up XP rates by cooking better food sooner
- To access efficient money-making methods
- To unlock achievement diary tasks early
All Cooking Boosts in OSRS
Here’s a breakdown of all known Cooking boosts and their effects:
Chef’s Delight (Beer)
- Boost: +1 to +5 Cooking (random)
- Type: Consumable alcoholic beverage
- How to obtain: Brew it using the Brewing mini-game
- Notes: The higher your Cooking level, the greater the chance of getting a higher boost. Chef’s Delight (M) offers an additional bonus and can give up to +5 Cooking.
Spicy Stew (Orange Spice)
- Boost: -5 to +5 Cooking (random)
- Type: Stew with colored spices (from Evil Dave’s basement)
- How to obtain: After completing the Evil Dave subquest of Recipe for Disaster
- Notes: Use up to 3 orange spices for maximum chance of +5. This is the best cooking boost in OSRS but also the most inconsistent.
Cooking Cape (Skillcape)
- Boost: Acts as a permanent anti-burn for any food
- Type: Passive effect (not a level boost)
- How to obtain: Buy from the Head Chef in the Cooking Guild after reaching 99 Cooking
- Notes: When worn, you no longer burn food (except in very rare cases), making it extremely useful for profit cooking.
Hosidius Kitchen (with 100% Favor)
- Effect: Reduces burn chance by 5% more than normal ranges
- Type: Not a level boost, but highly effective at lower levels
- How to access: Complete favor in the Hosidius House (Great Kourend)
- Notes: Use it in combination with cooking gauntlets for optimal success rates.
Cooking Gauntlets
- Effect: Reduces the chance of burning certain fish (lobsters, swordfish, sharks)
- How to obtain: After Family Crest quest
- Notes: Not a level boost, but critical for mid-level players to reduce waste.
Best Way to Boost Cooking in OSRS
The best temporary boost for Cooking is the Spicy Stew with Orange Spices, which can raise your Cooking level by up to +5. However, it’s inconsistent and requires preparation. If you’re planning to use it for a quest or diary requirement, it’s best to gather multiple stews and spices beforehand.
For consistent performance, Chef’s Delight (M) is another solid choice, especially for light boosts. It’s easier to prepare but gives a random boost.
Once you hit 99 Cooking, the Cooking Cape becomes invaluable. It removes the risk of burning completely and is great for money-making through high-level cooking.
FAQs About Cooking Boost OSRS
Q1: What is the highest Cooking boost in OSRS?
A: The highest possible Cooking boost is +5, which can be achieved by using a Spicy Stew with 3 orange spices.
Q2: How do I make Spicy Stew for a Cooking boost?
A: Complete the Evil Dave subquest from Recipe for Disaster, then get a regular stew and add up to 3 orange spices. These spices are obtained by feeding colored stews to Hell-Rats in Evil Dave’s basement.
Q3: What Cooking level do I need to stop burning sharks?
A: Without boosts, you stop burning sharks at level 94 Cooking. With Cooking Gauntlets, you stop burning at level 89. At level 99 with the Cooking Cape, you never burn sharks.
Q4: Does the Cooking Cape give a level boost?
A: No. It doesn’t raise your Cooking level, but it acts as a permanent anti-burn mechanic, which is even more useful in practice.
Q5: Can I boost Cooking to complete an Achievement Diary?
A: Yes. You can use boosts like Spicy Stew to temporarily reach the required Cooking level for diary tasks.
Q6: Is the Hosidius Kitchen better than regular ranges?
A: Yes! It offers the best burn reduction in the game (combined with gauntlets). It’s highly recommended for efficient cooking training, especially from level 60+.
Q7: Can you boost Cooking for quests?
A: Absolutely. Some quests require high Cooking levels (e.g., Dragon Slayer II, Recipe for Disaster), and a temporary boost can help you meet the requirement.
Final Thoughts
Cooking boosts in OSRS offer useful flexibility for skilling, quests, and money-making. Whether you’re trying to cook sharks earlier, complete a diary, or train more efficiently, knowing how and when to use a Cooking boost can save time and resources.
If you’re chasing high XP rates or trying to unlock content early, prepare those spicy stews or brew some Chef’s Delight—and enjoy your time in Gielinor, one delicious dish at a time.