OSRS 99 Cooking Guide: Fastest Methods to Master the Skill in 2025

Welcome to the ultimate OSRS 99 Cooking Guide! Whether you’re a free-to-play (F2P) player or a pay-to-play (P2P) adventurer in Old School RuneScape, this guide will help you reach level 99 Cooking efficiently. Cooking is one of the most popular skills in OSRS due to its simplicity, profitability, and AFK-friendly nature. By following this guide, you’ll discover the fastest methods, cost-effective strategies, and key tips to earn that coveted Cooking Skillcape. Let’s fire up the range and get started!

Cooking isn’t just about making food—it’s a gateway to better gameplay. High-level Cooking unlocks powerful healing items, boosts your account’s total level, and is essential for Ironmen who rely on self-sufficiency. Plus, it’s a fast skill to max out, making it a favorite for players aiming for their first 99. With the right approach, you can turn a profit while training, especially with P2P methods. Ready to see why Cooking deserves a spot in your skill grind? Let’s dive into the methods!

Benefits of Level 99 Cooking

• Access to High-Healing Food: Cook items like sharks and anglerfish for PvM and bossing.
• Profit Potential: Many cooked items sell for more than their raw counterparts.
• Quest and Diary Requirements: Skills like Cooking are needed for quests like Recipe for Disaster.
• Skillcape Perk: The Cooking Cape prevents burning food, saving time and resources.

Best Cooking Locations in OSRS

Location matters when training Cooking. The closer you are to a bank, the faster you can cook, and certain spots reduce burn rates. Here are the top places to train Cooking in OSRS, optimized for speed and efficiency.

Rogues’ Den (P2P)

Located under the Burthorpe Inn, Rogues’ Den offers a permanent fire right next to a banker. There’s no travel time between banking and cooking, making it ideal for AFK training. No requirements are needed, so it’s accessible to all P2P players.

Hosidius Kitchen (P2P)

The Hosidius Kitchen, found in Great Kourend, reduces burn rates by 5% (or 10% with the Elite Kourend & Kebos Diary). You’ll need 100% Hosidius favor to use it, but the bank proximity and burn reduction make it the best spot for high-level cooking.

Lumbridge Castle (F2P & P2P)

After completing Cook’s Assistant, the Cook-o-Matic 100 range in Lumbridge Castle lowers your burn rate. It’s a solid F2P option, though banking requires climbing a ladder, slowing you down slightly compared to P2P spots.

Fastest Methods to 99 Cooking (F2P)

For F2P players, Cooking is still quick and affordable. You’ll focus on fish, as they’re easy to obtain and cook in bulk. Here’s the breakdown to get from 1 to 99 in F2P.

Levels 1–20: Shrimp and Anchovies

Start by fishing shrimp and anchovies near Draynor Village or Lumbridge Swamp. Cook them on a fire or range. You’ll need about 100 shrimp to reach level 15, then switch to anchovies until 20. Expect around 30k XP/hour.

Levels 20–68: Trout and Salmon

Fish trout and salmon at Barbarian Village or Lumbridge. Cook them at Lumbridge Castle for reduced burning. You’ll need roughly 4,500 trout/salmon to hit 68, with XP rates around 70k–80k/hour.

Levels 68–99: Jugs of Wine

From level 35, you can make jugs of wine, but it’s most efficient from 68 to avoid making bad wine. Combine 14 jugs of water with 14 grapes per inventory. You’ll need 62,147 jugs to reach 99, offering 200k–250k XP/hour. It’s fast but not profitable.

Method	Level Range	XP/Hour	Items Needed
Shrimp/Anchovies	1–20	30k	100 shrimp, 50 anchovies
Trout/Salmon	20–68	70k–80k	4,500 fish
Jugs of Wine	68–99	200k–250k	62,147 jugs

Fastest Methods to 99 Cooking (P2P)

P2P players have access to faster XP rates and profitable options. These methods leverage high-level fish and tick manipulation for maximum efficiency.

Levels 1–30: Early Fish (Sardines, Herring)

Cook sardines (level 1) and herring (level 5) caught from places like Draynor or Catherby. You’ll need about 200–300 fish to hit 30, with XP rates of 40k–50k/hour. Use Rogues’ Den for speed.

Levels 30–90: Karambwans (Normal Cooking)

After completing Tai Bwo Wannai Trio, cook raw karambwans. They offer 190 XP each and stop burning at 99 with Cooking Gauntlets and Hosidius Kitchen. You’ll need around 60,000 karambwans to reach 90, with XP rates of 150k–260k/hour. Bonus: they’re profitable, netting 300k–400k GP/hour.

Levels 90–99: 1-Tick Karambwans

For the fastest XP in OSRS, use 1-tick cooking with karambwans. Hold the “2” key and rapidly click between a karambwan and the range. This yields 850k–900k XP/hour but is click-intensive. You’ll need 13,000–15,000 karambwans from 90 to 99. Practice at Hosidius or Rogues’ Den.

Alternative: Levels 87–99: Anglerfish

Anglerfish offer 230 XP each and decent profit. Cook them at Hosidius with Cooking Gauntlets (stop burning at 98). You’ll need about 15,000 to go from 87 to 99, with 200k–250k XP/hour and up to 700k GP/hour profit.

Tips and Tricks for Efficient Cooking Training

Maximize your Cooking grind with these pro tips. From gear to strategy, these will save you time and money on your way to 99.

Essential Gear

• Cooking Gauntlets: From Family Crest quest—reduces burn rates for lobsters, swordfish, and more.
• Cooking Cape: At 99, prevents all burning—great for high-level food.
• Portable Range: Boosts XP by 10% if you can afford it (P2P).

Burn Rate Management

Burning food wastes time and GP. Use Cooking Gauntlets, cook at Hosidius, and switch to higher-level food only when burn rates drop (e.g., sharks stop burning at 94 with gauntlets). Check burn-level charts online for exact levels.

Profit vs. Speed

Balancing profit and XP is key. Jugs of wine are fast but costly, while karambwans and anglerfish offer both XP and GP. Buy raw materials cheap on the Grand Exchange and sell cooked items during peak demand.

Quest Boosts

Complete these quests for free XP to jumpstart your training:

• Cook’s Assistant: 300 XP
• Recipe for Disaster (partial): Up to 20,000 XP
• Tai Bwo Wannai Trio: Unlocks karambwans

With these strategies, you’ll hit 99 Cooking in no time! For F2P, expect 50–60 hours with jugs of wine. For P2P, 20–25 hours is possible with 1-tick karambwans, or 50–60 hours with AFK methods like anglerfish. Grab your gauntlets, head to Hosidius, and start cooking your way to mastery in OSRS!