Okay so I’ve been playing RuneScape for like 8 years now and cooking has always been that skill where you just… wing it? You know what I mean. You hit level 40, start cooking lobsters, then maybe switch to swordfish later because some YouTube guide said so. But nobody ever tells you the EXACT numbers or whether you’re actually making money doing it.
That’s literally why I built this calculator. Got tired of doing math on my phone calculator every single time I wanted to figure out my cooking plans.
What This Thing Actually Does
Look, I’m not gonna lie and say this is some revolutionary tool. It’s pretty straightforward. You punch in where you’re at level-wise, where you wanna be, and it spits out every single cooking method you can use. But here’s the kicker – it shows you the profit too.
Most calculators just tell you “cook 5,000 sharks” and call it a day. Mine breaks down exactly what you need to buy, how much XP you’ll get, and whether you’ll make bank or go broke. Because let’s be real, nobody wants to spend 20M getting 99 cooking when you could do it for half that.
The interface is dead simple:
- Put in your current level
- Set your target (99 for most people, let’s be honest)
- Watch it calculate everything automatically
Then you get this massive table showing every food item you can cook at your level. Level requirement, XP per item, how many you need, what materials to buy, and the profit. Everything’s right there.
My Personal Cooking Disasters (And How This Fixes Them)
Alright story time. My first account, I trained cooking completely wrong. Hit level 70 and decided to cook sharks all the way to 99 because that’s what everyone on Reddit said to do. Spent like 15M and took FOREVER because sharks aren’t even that fast.
Second account? I got smarter. Used early versions of this calculator and discovered monkfish are actually insane XP per hour AND cheaper than sharks. Who knew, right? Saved probably 8M coins and got 99 way faster.
Here’s what I learned the hard way:
Low levels suck no matter what. Just burn through shrimps and anchovies as fast as possible. Don’t even think about profit until level 35-40.
Wine making is broken. Seriously, check the calculator at level 35. Wines give 200 XP each and you can make money doing it. Most guides skip this completely but it’s honestly one of the best methods in the game.
Sharks are overrated. Yeah I said it. Everyone cooks sharks because it’s “the meta” but monkfish give better XP rates for way less money. The only reason to cook sharks is if you’re an ironman who can’t buy monkfish.
Real Talk About Different Training Methods
The calculator shows like 50+ different foods you can cook. Obviously you’re not gonna cook bread dough to level 99, but having options is nice. Here’s how I actually use it:
Levels 1-25: Whatever’s cheapest. Usually shrimps then trout. Don’t overthink it.
Levels 25-62: This is where it gets interesting. Salmon, tuna, lobsters – they’re all decent. I usually go salmon until 40, then lobsters until I can do monkfish.
Levels 62-99: Monkfish all day unless you’re rich, then maybe swordfish or sharks if you want slightly better XP rates.
But that’s just MY way. The calculator shows everything so you can decide based on your bank account and patience level.
The Profit Thing (This is Important)
Most people think cooking is just a money sink skill. Like you’re gonna spend millions getting 99 and that’s just how it is. That’s total BS.
Look at the profit column in the calculator. Tons of foods actually MAKE money. Wines, pies, pizzas, even some fish if you buy smart. I’ve literally made money getting 99 cooking on two different accounts just by paying attention to which methods are profitable.
The calculator updates profit based on current GE prices (well, it tries to). Obviously prices change but it gives you a good idea of what’s worth doing.
Things That Annoyed Me About Other Calculators
Most cooking calculators online are garbage. Either they don’t work, show wrong XP values, or completely ignore the profit aspect. Some don’t even show membership foods properly.
This one actually works. I use it myself every time I train cooking on a new account. The numbers are accurate, it includes everything from basic shrimps to high-level stuff like manta rays, and the profit calculations are based on real GE data.
Plus it doesn’t look like it was made in 2005. Clean interface, works on mobile, actually loads fast.
Ironman Players (Yeah I See You)
If you’re ironman, obviously ignore all the profit stuff since you can’t trade anyway. But the material requirements are clutch for planning what to fish or grow.
Like if you wanna go from 80 to 90 cooking and the calculator says you need 15,000 raw sharks, you know exactly what you’re getting into. No guessing, no running out of food halfway through.
The calculator also shows which foods need weird ingredients you might not have stockpiled. Saves you from starting a cooking session then realizing you need 500 potatoes or whatever.
Quick Tips That Actually Matter
Get cooking gauntlets ASAP. They prevent burning at lower levels and the calculator assumes you’re not burning food. Without them, add like 10% extra materials.
Hosidius kitchen is OP. Lower burn rates mean the calculator is more accurate. Plus banking is super close.
Don’t sleep on profitable methods. If wines or pies show profit, seriously consider them even if the XP rates look lower. Making money while training is always better than losing money.
Check current prices. The calculator tries to show accurate profits but GE prices change. Double-check before buying 10K of anything.
Questions People Always Ask
How accurate is this thing? Pretty accurate. XP values are straight from the game, level requirements are correct, profit calculations are based on recent GE prices. It’s not perfect but way better than guessing.
What about burning food? Calculator assumes you don’t burn anything, which is realistic with proper equipment and levels. If you’re worried about burns, buy extra materials.
Can F2P players use this? Absolutely. All F2P foods are included. Just ignore anything marked members-only.
What’s the fastest way to 99? Depends on your budget. Rich? Sharks or anglerfish. Poor? Monkfish. Broke? Wines and profitable methods. The calculator shows all options.
Should I cook for profit or XP? Honestly? Profit. Getting 99 cooking while making money is way better than bleeding cash for slightly faster XP. Unless you’re super rich or in a hurry.
Does this work for low-level accounts? Yeah, it covers everything from level 1 shrimps to level 95 summer pies. Put in your real level and see what’s available.
Bottom Line
Training cooking doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. This calculator just gives you the numbers so you can make smart choices instead of following outdated guides.
I built it because I needed it myself and figured other players would find it useful too. It’s not fancy but it works and the numbers are right. That’s all that really matters.
Whether you’re going for first 99, maxing an alt, or just want to train cooking efficiently, having accurate data beats guessing every time. Plus seeing the profit potential might convince you that cooking isn’t just a money sink skill after all.
Good luck grinding, try not to burn everything, and remember that 99 cooking is actually pretty easy once you have a plan.