Your cart is empty
Cooking raw tuna
Overview of Cooking Raw Tuna
Cooking raw tuna in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a classic money-making method that leverages the Cooking skill to turn a readily available fish into a profitable commodity. Raw tuna, commonly fished by players or purchased from the Grand Exchange, can be cooked into tuna, a food item valued for its moderate healing properties and widespread use in training and combat. This method is especially appealing to players with low to mid-level skills, offering a straightforward way to earn GP with minimal startup costs. While not the flashiest or most lucrative method, cooking raw tuna provides steady income, scalability with higher Cooking levels, and the added benefit of training a useful skill, making it a practical choice for both newbies and seasoned adventurers looking to fund their next big purchase.
Skill and Level Requirements
To make money cooking raw tuna, players need to meet some basic skill thresholds and have access to certain in-game resources. Here’s what’s required:
- Cooking Level: A minimum of 30 Cooking is needed to cook raw tuna without burning it 100% of the time. However, for efficiency and profit, aiming for 55 Cooking (where burning stops entirely with a range) or higher is ideal.
- Fire or Range Access: Cooking can be done on a fire (requiring logs and a tinderbox) or a range (available in many towns). Ranges are preferred as they reduce burn rates.
- Access to Raw Tuna: Players can fish raw tuna themselves (requires 35 Fishing and a harpoon) or buy it from the Grand Exchange.
- Bank Access: Proximity to a bank is crucial for quick inventory restocks, with locations like Lumbridge or the Cooks’ Guild being optimal.
- Optional Quests: Completing Cook’s Assistant (unlocks Lumbridge range) or Family Crest (for Cooks’ Guild access at 40 Cooking) enhances convenience.
While anyone with 30 Cooking can start, reaching 55+ and unlocking key locations significantly boosts efficiency and profitability.
Gear and Inventory Preparation
Proper gear and inventory setup streamline the cooking process, reducing downtime and maximizing output. Here’s the recommended configuration:
Gear
- Chef’s Hat or Cooking Cape: The hat grants access to the Cooks’ Guild (40 Cooking required), while the cape (99 Cooking) offers a teleport and eliminates burning entirely.
- Cooking Gauntlets: From Family Crest, these reduce burn rates for tuna until 55 Cooking, though they’re optional at higher levels.
- Graceful Outfit (Optional): Speeds up trips between bank and cooking spot if running is involved.
Inventory
- Raw Tuna: 28 per inventory if banking, or as many as you can carry for bulk sessions (buy for ~100 GP each or fish yourself).
- Tinderbox and Logs (If Using Fire): Oak or willow logs (~50-100 GP each) for a cheap, portable fire.
- Coins (Optional): For bank withdrawals or teleport fees if needed.
- Teleport Items:
- Lumbridge Teleport runes (law, air, earth).
- Varrock Teleport runes (for Cooks’ Guild access).
- Amulet of Glory (Edgeville bank).
A simple setup works for beginners raw tuna and access to a range while advanced players benefit from guild access and burn-proof perks.
Cooking Process
The process of cooking raw tuna is repetitive but easy to master, making it a low-effort method once set up. Follow these steps:
- Acquire Raw Tuna: Buy from the Grand Exchange (~100 GP each) or fish at Musa Point (Karamja) with 35 Fishing and a harpoon.
- Choose a Location:
- Lumbridge Kitchen (post-Cook’s Assistant, close to bank).
- Cooks’ Guild (level 40+, Varrock teleport, near Grand Exchange).
- Edgeville (range near bank, Glory teleport).
- Hosidius Kitchen (reduces burn rate by 5%, teleport with Xeric’s Talisman).
- Set Up: If using a fire, light logs with a tinderbox; otherwise, head to a range.
- Cook: Use raw tuna on the fire or range, selecting “Cook All” to process the full inventory (28 tuna take ~1 minute).
- Bank and Repeat: Deposit cooked tuna, withdraw more raw tuna, and return to the cooking spot.
- Sell: Offload cooked tuna on the Grand Exchange (~150 GP each) when finished.
A single inventory takes about 2-3 minutes including banking, allowing for hundreds of tuna cooked per hour with practice.
Profit Analysis
Cooking raw tuna offers modest but consistent profits, with earnings tied to Cooking level and burn rates. Here’s a breakdown:
Per Inventory (28 Tuna)
| Item | Cost/Revenue | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Tuna | -100 GP x 28 | -2.8K GP |
| Cooked Tuna (Success) | 150 GP x 28 | 4.2K GP |
| Net Profit (No Burns) | 50 GP x 28 | 1.4K GP |
| Net Profit (50% Burn at 30 Cooking) | 25 GP x 28 | 700 GP |
Key Factors
- Burn Rates:
- At 30 Cooking: ~50% burn on a range, ~60% on a fire.
- At 55 Cooking: 0% burn on a range, ~10% on a fire.
- Hourly Output: Cooking 500-600 tuna per hour (20-25 inventories) is realistic with banking.
- Profit per Hour:
- At 30 Cooking: 15K-20K GP (accounting for burns).
- At 55+ Cooking: 25K-35K GP (no burns, full efficiency).
Total Earnings
With bulk cooking (e.g., 1,000 tuna), expect 25K-50K GP profit, scaling with level and location perks. It’s not millions, but it’s reliable pocket change.
Optimization Strategies
To squeeze the most GP and XP out of cooking raw tuna, consider these tweaks:
- Level Up: Push Cooking to 55 ASAP to eliminate burns on ranges, doubling profit per inventory.
- Use Hosidius Kitchen: The 5% burn reduction lets you cook burn-free at 50 Cooking, saving time and GP.
- Cooks’ Guild: At 40 Cooking, cook here for proximity to the Grand Exchange and a bank, cutting travel time.
- Bulk Buy: Purchase raw tuna when prices drop below 100 GP and sell cooked tuna above 150 GP for better margins.
- Fire vs. Range: Stick to ranges for lower burn rates; only use fires if training Firemaking alongside.
- Multitask: Fish your own tuna at Musa Point (free raw materials) or cook while chatting in a clan to stay engaged.
- Bankstanding: Use portable ranges (if available from others) near banks for zero travel time.
- Scale Up: Switch to higher-value fish like lobsters (40 Cooking) or sharks (80 Cooking) as your level grows for bigger profits.
These strategies turn a basic method into a lean, efficient GP generator while leveling Cooking for future gains.
Summary
Cooking raw tuna in OSRS is a beginner-friendly money-making method that delivers steady profits with minimal complexity. Requiring just 30 Cooking to start and peaking at 55 for full efficiency, it’s an accessible way to earn 15K-35K GP per hour while training a core skill. With a simple setup raw tuna, a range, and a bank nearby players can churn out cooked tuna for sale, banking 1.4K GP per inventory at max efficiency. Optimization through level-ups, strategic locations like Hosidius or the Cooks’ Guild, and market timing can push returns higher, though it won’t rival high-end methods like bossing. For players seeking a low-stakes, reliable income stream to fund gear or skills, cooking raw tuna remains a timeless, practical choice in Gielinor’s economy.
