Monster hunting is no easy business. You need to make sure you’re properly prepared for the task, and that means eating a good meal. Here’s how to cook and eat your own meals in Monster Hunter Wilds.
Cooking and Eating Meals in Monster Hunter Wilds
Unlike in World and Rise, where you could rely on a friendly Palico NPC to prepare meals for you, Monster Hunter Wilds puts the chef’s hat firmly on your head—you’ll need to prepare your own food this time around.
There are two main ways to get the job done:
- By cooking in your tent
- By using the Portable BBQ Grill
Whenever you take on a new quest, it's wise to take a moment and prep accordingly. Start by heading to your tent, then open the BBQ Menu by pressing L1 or R1. From there, select the "Grill a Meal" option. Alternatively, if you're out in the wild, simply pull out your Portable BBQ Grill from your inventory, press the Square button to use it, and begin cooking on the spot.
Which Meals to Cook?
Inside the cooking menu, you have three options: recommended, custom, or favorite meals.
Recommended Meals are straightforward and perfect for quick preparation. These meals typically include a Ration along with any additional ingredients you may have. Cooking only with Rations grants a 30-minute buff that boosts your Health by +50, Stamina by +150, and Attack by +2. Adding extra ingredients extends the effect duration by an additional 20 minutes.
While basic, these meals offer solid benefits and should be considered the minimum standard before heading into the field.
For more tailored results, go with Custom Meals. In this mode, you can combine one Ration, one ingredient, and finishing touches to fine-tune your buffs. Rations come in meat, fish, or veggie varieties and provide different stat boosts—like increased Attack, Defense, or resistance to specific elements.
Additional ingredients and finishing touches allow for further customization, giving you perks such as improved gathering efficiency or reduced damage taken.
Once you’ve made your selections, start cooking. Your Hunter will automatically consume the meal once it's ready, so you can jump straight into the action.
And that’s how to cook and eat meals in Monster Hunter Wilds. Proper preparation can mean the difference between victory and defeat—so choose wisely before each hunt.
Be sure to visit The Escapist for more tips and updates on the game.
