I’ve maxed Cooking on a main and trained it on irons, pures, and skillers. This osrs cooking guide is the clear, friendly path I wish I had on day one. You’ll learn fast XP routes, cheap and AFK methods, profit options, and smart tricks to avoid burns. If you want 1–99 Cooking with less waste, fewer clicks, and more gold, keep reading. This osrs cooking guide blends real game experience with proven data so you can level fast and cook like a pro.

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Why Train Cooking In OSRS
Cooking is one of the fastest 99s. It is cheap, low effort, and useful for every account type. You also unlock great foods for PvM and skilling.
Key benefits:
- Very fast XP rates at mid to high levels
- Easy AFK training on fires or ranges
- Strong profit options with high-level fish
- Diary, quest, and gauntlet perks reduce burn chance
- Great for early game healing on any account
My take: I always push Cooking early. It funds other skills, saves time in combat, and sets the tone for smooth progress.

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Fastest 1–99 Cooking Methods
Below is the speed path if you want raw XP per hour. It uses common foods and popular spots.
Levels 1–15: Shrimp and anchovies
- Cook at any range in Lumbridge or Draynor
- Very cheap and simple
Levels 15–25: Trout
- Fast XP, buy in bulk
- Use a range for lower burn chance
Levels 25–50: Salmon
- Good XP per hour with low burn
- Bank standing methods work great here
Levels 50–75: Tuna to lobsters
- Tuna 50–55
- Lobsters 55–65
- Swordfish 65–75 (use cooking gauntlets to cut burns)
Levels 75–90: Sharks or wines
- Wines give very fast XP with almost zero effort
- Sharks are slower but can make back some GP
Levels 90–99: Anglerfish, dark crabs, karambwans
- Anglerfish: great XP, decent profit
- Karambwans: click-heavy but very fast XP if you buffer the process
- Dark crabs: niche but strong profit with right market
Best XP spots:
- Hosidius Kitchen: reduced burn chance on ranges
- Rogues’ Den Fire: fast bank to fire, great for AFK streaks
- Cooks’ Guild: handy if you have the requirements
Tip: Use cooking gauntlets from the Family Crest quest as soon as you can. They cut burns on many fish tiers and speed up the whole grind.

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Cheap And AFK Cooking Methods
If you want calm training, these are your friends.
- Wines: Buy grapes and jugs of water. Use them together for jugs of wine. XP drops on ferment. Very low effort. Great from 35+.
- Lobsters: Cheap, low burn, easy bank standing.
- Sharks with gauntlets: Slow XP but relaxed and steady.
- Stews and pizzas: Niche, but cheap at times. Check prices first.
Personal note: On my iron, I used wines during breaks. I would do a quick batch, then let them ferment while I did Slayer. Free XP without the stress.

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Profitable Cooking And Money-Making
You can turn Cooking into profit at mid to high levels. Prices change, so always check margins.
Good profit foods:
- Sharks and anglerfish: Often give small profit with gauntlets
- Karambwans: Popular for PvM. Cooked versions can hold value
- Dark crabs: Good profit, but supply and demand swing
- Pies and pizzas: Strong in niche markets like PvM or PK hubs
How to lock in profit:
- Buy raw items in bulk when prices dip
- Sell cooked items during peak hours or before weekend PvM rush
- Avoid overcooking margins; aim for steady turnover
Extra tip: If you fish your own supplies (barbarian fishing, karambwanji to karambwans), your profits rise while your total time cost stays fair.

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Gear, Boosts, And Burn Mechanics
Burn chance is the wall between you and smooth XP. Reduce it early to save cash.
Core gear and boosts:
- Cooking gauntlets: Big burn reduction on several fish tiers
- Hosidius Range: Best-in-class burn rates for many foods
- Chef’s hat and Cooks’ Guild access: Small perk, handy bank
- Cooking cape: At level 99, it acts as a portable range in a pinch
Useful mechanics:
- Higher Cooking level reduces burns across the board
- Ranges burn less than fires for most foods
- Some foods have set levels where burns stop entirely with gauntlets or certain ranges
Mistake to avoid: Cooking pricey fish too early. You will burn a lot and lose GP. Step up your food tiers only when your level and spot support it.
Best Locations And Banking Options
Your spot matters. It decides your click count and your pace.
Top choices:
- Rogues’ Den: Fire next to bank chest. One of the best AFK loops in the game
- Hosidius Kitchen: Reduced burn rate. Good for high-level fish and cost control
- Cooks’ Guild: Bank and range close if you have the entry level and chef’s hat
- Lumbridge Castle range: Great for starting levels and early game bank access
Quality-of-life:
- Set camera and zoom so your clicks are short and clean
- Use shift-drop when fishing to prep supplies fast
- Keep gauntlets on at all times when relevant
Efficient 1–99 Roadmap
Use this plan if you want clarity from day one.
- 1–15 shrimp/anchovies at Lumbridge range
- 15–25 trout at a range of choice
- 25–50 salmon at bank-standing spot
- 50–55 tuna, then 55–65 lobsters
- 65–75 swordfish with cooking gauntlets
- 75–85 wines or sharks depending on budget and pace
- 85–90 sharks or anglerfish for profit focus
- 90–99 anglerfish, karambwans, or wines based on your style
If you hate clicks, pick wines and sharks. If you love speed, go karambwans with good rhythm. If you want GP, pile into anglerfish.
Quests, Diaries, And Unlocks That Help
These steps reduce burns and unlock useful perks.
Helpful unlocks:
- Family Crest: Grants cooking gauntlets
- Kourend favor: Access to Hosidius Kitchen for better burn rates
- Varrock and Kandarin diaries: General travel and bank perks that speed routes
- Recipe-based quests: Some dishes need quest unlocks, so check before buying supplies
Tip from experience: I always rush Family Crest. Those gauntlets pay for themselves within an hour on mid-tier fish.
Advanced Tips, Mistakes To Avoid, And Ironman Advice
Simple habits save time and gold.
Pro tips:
- Batch buy and sell: Avoid massive orders during price spikes
- Test a small sample: Cook 100 first to gauge burn rate and margin
- Use the right spot for the food tier: Range vs fire matters
- Don’t ignore wines: They are the easiest AFK XP in the skill
Common mistakes:
- Cooking sharks too early and burning money
- Ignoring gauntlets
- Not checking prices before mass buying raw fish
Ironman notes:
- Fish your own supplies early. Trout, salmon, tuna, and lobsters come fast
- Do Family Crest early via boosts and help if needed
- Farm karambwanji for karambwans. It is clicky but worth it later
Frequently Asked Questions Of OSRS Cooking Guide
Q. What Is The Fastest Way To 99 Cooking?
Wines from 35 to 99 are the easiest fast method. Karambwans at high levels can be faster with more clicks.
Q. Where Should I Cook For The Lowest Burn Chance?
Hosidius Kitchen is best for many foods. Also use cooking gauntlets to stack the benefit.
Q. Are Cooking Gauntlets Worth It?
Yes. They cut burns on key fish like swordfish and sharks. You save time and money.
Q. Can I Make Money While Training Cooking?
Yes. Anglerfish, sharks, karambwans, and dark crabs often give profit. Always check current prices.
Q. Is Cooking Good For Ironman Accounts?
It is great. You can gather your own fish, rush gauntlets, and stock high-heal foods for PvM and quests.
Q. What Level Do I Stop Burning Sharks?
With cooking gauntlets and a good range, burns taper off at high levels. Expect clean cooks near late 80s to 90s.
Conclusion
Cooking is fast, calm, and rewarding. With gauntlets, smart spots, and the right foods at the right levels, you can hit 99 without burning your bank. Pick your path: wines for speed, sharks for comfort, or karambwans for click power. Start small, test your margins, and scale with confidence.
Ready to cook smarter? Try one method today, track your XP per hour, and adjust tomorrow. If you want more guides like this, subscribe or drop a comment with your current level and goal.
