Fast Cooking Gains OSRS Sharks for Max XP

Hey, if you’re grinding your way through Old School RuneScape and staring down that Cooking skill, I’ve got a spot in my heart for sharks. Man, those things. Back when I was pushing my first account to 99 Cooking, sharks became my best buddy during those late-night sessions. I’d plop down at the Hosidius range, gauntlets glowing on my hands, and just zone out while the XP ticked up. It’s not glamorous, but it’s reliable. And today, we’re diving deep into why cooking sharks can net you some seriously solid XP per hour. Stick around, because I’ll share the numbers, the tricks, and even a few stories from my own burns and triumphs.

Let’s cut to the chase. Sharks aren’t the flashiest fish in Gielinor, but they’re a workhorse for anyone hovering around level 80 Cooking and up. They give you 210 XP each when cooked successfully, which sounds straightforward, right? But the real magic happens when you factor in how many you can churn through in an hour.

From what I’ve seen and crunched over years of playing, you’re looking at anywhere from 1,000 to 1,300 sharks cooked per hour under good conditions. That shakes out to about 210,000 to 273,000 XP per hour. Pretty sweet, huh? I remember hitting 250k XP in a session once, feeling like a pro chef in Lumbridge. But wait, is that the max? Not quite if you’re optimized, but we’ll get to that.

Sharks heal 20 HP too, so they’re not just for training. They’re your go-to for bossing or PvP later on. As an OSRS vet with over 2,000 hours logged, I’ve burned through stacks of them in raids, and cooking my own always felt like a smart flex.

Quick Question: Are You Burning Too Many?

Ever pull a raw shark from the bank, toss it on the fire, and watch it go poof into a charred mess? Yeah, me too. Early on, my burn rate was brutal at level 82. I’d lose 10-15% of my inventory, which kills both XP and your wallet. So, what’s the fix? Levels and gear. At 89 Cooking with the right setup, burns drop to zero. Game-changer.

The Perfect Setup to Hit Peak XP Rates

Alright, picture this: You’re geared up, bank’s stocked, and you’re ready to cook like a demon. What do you need? Let’s break it down simple.

First off, Cooking Gauntlets. These bad boys are non-negotiable. Get ’em from the Family Crest quest, and they’ll slash your burn chance on sharks by a ton. I did that quest on my ironman last year, and it was the best decision. No more watching 200k gp turn to ash.

Next, location matters. The Hosidius Kitchen is king here. It’s got that 5% burn reduction, and with 100% favor, you’re walking distance from the bank. I spent weeks there, teleporting in with a skills necklace, and it felt seamless. Compare that to Rogues’ Den? Sure, it’s got a fire close by, but the vibe’s different. Hosidius wins for efficiency.

Oh, and don’t sleep on the Elite Kourend Diary. Finish that, and you hit 0% burn at level 84 instead of 89. I grinded that diary on my main, cursing the agility shortcuts, but man, the payoff in Cooking sessions was huge.

Here’s a quick list of must-haves:

• Level 80+ Cooking (aim for 89, trust me)
• Cooking Gauntlets (Family Crest quest)
• 100% Hosidius favor
• Access to Hosidius Kitchen (Kourend & Kebos Diary easy tier)
• A fat stack of raw sharks (buy ’em or fish your own)

With all that, you’re primed for those 1,300 cooks per hour. I once timed myself: 1,280 in a full hour, no breaks. Felt epic.

Crunching the Numbers XP Per Hour Breakdown

Numbers don’t lie, and in OSRS, they guide everything. Let’s table this out so you can see how your setup stacks up. I pulled these from my own logs and cross-checked with the wiki rates. Assuming no distractions, here’s what you might expect.

See that jump at 89? That’s where it gets juicy. At max efficiency, 273k XP/hour is realistic. I hit 260k consistently on my alt account last month, banking every 28 sharks. Felt like flying.

But hey, real talk: These are ideals. If you’re chatting in clan or watching Netflix, drop 10-20% off that. Still beats lower-level grinds like lobsters, which cap around 200k.

Profit Angle: Is It Worth the Grind?

Ever wonder if cooking sharks pays for itself? Short answer: Yes, if you’re smart. Raw sharks run about 550-600 gp each right now, cooked ones fetch 800+. With 1,200 cooks/hour and minimal burns, you’re pocketing 150k-250k gp/hour. Not ZMI monkfish levels, but solid for a chill skill.

I flipped my cooked stacks on the GE during a price spike last year, cleared 2m in a weekend. Question for you: Planning to sell or stockpile for Inferno runs? Either way, it funds the next gear upgrade.

My Wild Ride Cooking Sharks to 99

Let me take you back. It was 2022, my main sitting at 85 Cooking, staring at 14 million XP to go. I was burned out on Slayer tasks, so sharks it was. First session? Disaster. Forgot my gauntlets, burned 30% in Hosidius. Lost 500k gp and rage-quit after 45 minutes. Lesson learned: Double-check inventory.

But I bounced back. Next day, full setup. I set a playlist of old RuneScape soundtracks, dimmed the lights, and went for it. Hour one: 220k XP. Hour two: Hit a groove, 245k. By hour four, I was at 92 Cooking, hands cramping but grinning ear to ear. That zero-burn sweet spot? Pure bliss. No more frantic inventory swaps for anti-burn potions.

One funny mishap: Mid-session, a clan mate pings me for a duo Vorkath. I log in mid-cook, sharks everywhere, and accidentally eat a raw one. 20 HP gone, plus the embarrassment. We laughed it off, but yeah, focus is key.

Long story short, I capped at 99 in three weeks of evenings. Total cost? About 15m gp, but I sold half the sharks for profit. Worth every second. Now, on my ironman, I’m back at it from 70, loving the self-sufficiency.

Boosting Your XP: Tricks from a Seasoned Chef

Want to squeeze more out of your hour? I’ve got hacks that turned my rates up 10-15%.

• Tick Manipulation Lite: No need for 1-tick karambwans yet. Just right-click “use” raw shark on range, hold it down. Saves a tick here and there.
• Bank Presets: Set one for 28 raw sharks. Withdraw, cook, deposit cooked. Rinse, repeat. I scripted mine in my head, muscle memory kicked in after day one.
• Music and Mindset: Throw on some lo-fi beats. Keeps you from wandering off. I once did a six-hour sesh, hit 1.4m XP total. Insane.

And for the bold: Pair it with fishing. Catch your own sharks at Musa Point, cook on the spot. Doubles as Fishing gains, but slower pace. I did this for quests, got 80k Fishing XP as a bonus.

What about alternatives? If sharks feel stale, try anglerfish at 94+. They edge out with 230 XP each, pushing 300k+/hour. But sharks are easier to source.

Common Pitfalls and How to Dodge Them

Nobody’s perfect. I sure wasn’t. Here’s what trips folks up, straight from my fails.

Burns, as we said. Solution? Level up or diary grind. Don’t cheap out on gauntlets; they’re a 500k investment for millions in savings.

Bank time eats hours. Hosidius minimizes it, but if you’re remote, use a portable range for bursts. I teleported to Myths’ Guild once for variety, cooked 1,400/hour there. Fancy, but Hosidius is home.

Overlooking favor. Forgot mine dropped to 80% mid-grind once. Burns spiked, lost an hour’s progress. Pro tip: Tithe farm to top it up quick.

And fatigue. Long sessions kill focus. I cap at four hours, take walks. Keeps the XP steady.

Quick question: How’s your Cooking looking right now? If under 80, grind swordfish first. Sharks wait for you.

Wrapping It Up: Your Path to Cooking Mastery

So, there you have it. Cooking sharks in OSRS isn’t just a grind; it’s a reliable rocket to high XP per hour, 210k-273k territory with the right moves. From my early burns to 99 cape flexes, it’s been a journey of patience and tweaks. Grab those gauntlets, hit Hosidius, and watch the levels fly.

Got questions? Drop ’em below. What’s your go-to food for training? For me, sharks forever. Now go cook, adventurer. Your 99 awaits.