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No Man’s Sky has experienced a remarkable expansion of content, features, and gameplay systems since its launch. Each new addition enhances the game, creating a vast universe filled with possibilities that players can explore at their own pace.
Cooking is one of the many systems introduced after the game’s release. With an array of unique plants and creatures throughout the game, there are countless recipes to discover. However, the cooking process can be slightly complex, so here are the essentials you need to know.
Blueprints Essential for Cooking
In the Anomaly, there’s one crucial blueprint you need for cooking, along with several optional ones based on your cooking goals.
All blueprints discussed here can be found at the Construction Research Station in the Anomaly, except for the last one, which is at the Synthesis Laboratory, across the same room.
Nutrient Processor
The only crucial blueprint you’ll need for cooking is the Nutrient Processor, although relying solely on it may not be the most efficient approach.
| Blueprint | Section | Salvaged Data |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrient Processor | Technology Modules | x10 |
Additional Blueprints for Cooking
Several other blueprints aren’t strictly necessary but will enhance your cooking options and streamline the process. Most, except for the last one listed below, require Salvaged Data to acquire.
| Blueprint | Section | Salvaged Data |
|---|---|---|
| Livestock Unit | Technology Modules | x10 |
| Automated Feeder | Technology Modules | x10 |
| Hydroponic Tray | Agricultural Modules | x3 |
| Large Hydroponic Tray | Agricultural Modules | x3 |
| Fungal Cluster | Agricultural Modules | x3 |
| Frostwort | Agricultural Modules | x3 |
| Gamma Weed | Agricultural Modules | x3 |
| Echinocactus | Agricultural Modules | x3 |
| Star Bramble | Agricultural Modules | x3 |
| Solar Vine | Agricultural Modules | x3 |
| Mordite Root | Agricultural Modules | x3 |
| Poly Fiber | Synthesis Laboratory | x250 (Nanite Clusters) |
Creating a Cooking Space
To start cooking, you don’t need a large space—just a bit of time and the necessary resources to build a small internal area. The basic requirements are minimal; most of the cost will be in creating an appealing aesthetics for your cooking area.
Constructing an Interior Room
Your room can be any shape as long as it has walls and a roof. Plants grown in Hydroponic Trays must be indoors unless they have specific conditions to thrive. Growing multiple plant types in the same space isn’t possible, so it’s best to plant them indoors.
Note that Hydroponic Trays require power to operate, so you’ll need a simple power grid. Solar Panels and Batteries work well for this.
How to Grow Plants
To plant in Hydroponic Trays, enter the build menu just like you would to set up a wall. Look for the Advanced Technology section, the same category where Hydroponic Trays are found.
Each plant requires a specific resource to grow, and they’ll all have different grow times indicated in their descriptions before placing them.
How to Harvest Plants
After each plant’s growth period is complete, you can harvest it, gaining a substantial amount of that resource and restarting the growth cycle.
While a small farm may yield only a limited amount of ingredients, a larger setup can provide a steady flow of resources.
You don’t have to limit your growing to cooking ingredients. You can also harvest valuable items like Albumen Pearls for trade.
Setting Up Fauna Technology
Gathering the materials for automatically collecting ingredients from fauna can be more complex. Resources needed for a Livestock Unit and an Automated Feeder require crafting, which may not always be readily available.
Both the Livestock Unit and Automated Feeder need electricity to function, similar to your Hydroponic Trays.
Building a Livestock Unit
To craft a Livestock Unit, you’ll need Poly Fiber, which can be obtained by visiting the Synthesis Laboratory in the Anomaly. To create Poly Fiber, gather Cactus Flesh and Star Bulbs.
This emphasizes that having a stock of both resources on hand aids in quicker construction.
Grow Echinocactus for Cactus Flesh and Star Bramble for Star Bulbs.
Once built, the Livestock Unit will automatically gather whatever resources the local fauna yield when fed. This enables a consistent supply of at least one resource, ideally from multiple creatures if they are present.
Creating an Automated Feeder
Creating an Automated Feeder is generally easier than crafting a Livestock Unit. The most challenging resource needed is Chlorine, which you can find in oceanic environments or create by refining Salt.
The Automated Feeder requires a steady supply of Creature Pellets to nourish nearby wildlife. By doing this, it will attract creatures, which in turn will deposit their resources into the Livestock Unit.
Utilizing the Nutrient Processor
Once you have the ingredients ready, you can use the Nutrient Processor. This device allows you to combine up to three different ingredients, displaying the potential outcome on the right side of your screen.
While there are numerous recipes, you don’t need to memorize each one. Many have overlapping effects but differ in the required ingredients.
Most Beneficial Recipes
While most food provides minimal effects, they remain beneficial. Below are some of the key advantages and the dishes that offer them.
| Recipe | Ingredients | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Slime Pop | Viscous Custard + Frost Crystal + Sweetened Mucous | Recharges 25% Hazard Protection |
| Sweet and Salt Puff | Syrupy Batter + Salty Custard | Restores 50% Health |
| Wriggling Tack | Sugar Dough + Nightmare Sausage | Restores 40% Life Support |
Many recipes in No Man’s Sky require multiple cooked ingredients, transforming the cooking process into a multi-step task. Dishes made with these ingredients often yield a higher resale value, though this is not always the case. If you’re aiming to make some profit, it’s wise to do some research on which dishes you want to create.
You can also simply mix ingredients to see what happens if you’re feeling adventurous.
The Purpose of Cooking
Overall, the effort invested in cooking in No Man’s Sky may not always yield significant returns. Though this varies by dish, if you analyze from a strategic standpoint, there are more effective ways to earn currency and maintain your survival.
However, there is enjoyment to be found in cooking. Despite its limited benefits, the game thrives on the player’s level of engagement and creativity. In the Anomaly, generous travelers often share their culinary creations with fellow players, and that spirit of kindness can make the cooking endeavor worthwhile.
