Cooking in Project Zomboid (Build 42)
Cooking is a Crafting skill. Taking it from 0 to 10 costs 32,775 XP before multipliers — 5 skill books multiply what you earn on the way; the Chef occupation starts with 4 levels, and it unlocks 27 recipes.
From the Build 42 dedicated server's files (depot manifest of 23 Sept 2026).
XP for each level
Level 10 alone costs 9,000 XP — 27% of the total.
How to level Cooking
Cooking XP comes from cooking food on a heat source, from crafting cooking recipes and from adding ingredients to evolved recipes.
Adapted from PZwiki, Cooking (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0); shared under the same licence.
XP needed for each level
| Level | XP for this level | Total XP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 75 | 75 |
| 2 | 150 | 225 |
| 3 | 300 | 525 |
| 4 | 750 | 1,275 |
| 5 | 1,500 | 2,775 |
| 6 | 3,000 | 5,775 |
| 7 | 4,500 | 10,275 |
| 8 | 6,000 | 16,275 |
| 9 | 7,500 | 23,775 |
| 10 | 9,000 | 32,775 |
What you actually earn is scaled first. Starting with no levels in Cooking cuts every gain to ×0.25; a starting +1 is ×1, +2 ×1.33 and +3 or more ×1.66. Fast Learner adds ×1.3, Slow Learner ×0.7. How the multipliers work.
Cooking skill books
Reading a volume multiplies the Cooking XP you earn while your level is inside its range: every tenth of the book read adds a tenth of the multiplier. The game lets you open a volume from one level below its range, and not once you are past it (ISReadABook.lua).
Cooking V: "Ruban Vert Gourmet - Complete Cooking Techniques"
- Levels
- 9–10
- Pages
- 380
- XP up to
- ×16
Multipliers from the game's skill-book table (lua/server/XpSystem/XPSystem_SkillBook.lua); “where it spawns” opens the map's item finder on the loot tables.
Start with Cooking
Levels a new character gets in Cooking — and, through them, a faster XP rate (see above):
- Chefoccupation · +4
- Burger Flipperoccupation · +2
Keen Cooktrait · +2
Cooking from TV and VHS
9 Life and Living shows give 3,050 XP in Cooking. 8 VHS tapes give 2,200 XP. Both stop counting once the skill reaches level 3 in the default sandbox settings, and before the multipliers above. Shows and tapes, by name.
Recipes you learn by levelling Cooking
Reaching the level teaches the recipe — no magazine needed.
- Lv 1
Forge Baking Pan - Lv 1
Forge Baking Tray - Lv 1
Forge Frying Pan - Lv 1
Forge Roasting Pan - Lv 2
Forge Cooking Pot - Lv 2
Forge Kettle - Lv 2
Forge Saucepan - Lv 6
Make 4 Cabbage Rolls - Lv 6
Make Guacamole - Lv 6
Prepare 2 Breaded Onion Rings - Lv 6
Prepare Breaded Shrimp - Lv 6
Prepare Maki - Lv 6
Prepare Onigiri - Lv 6
Prepare Pizza - Lv 6
Prepare Sushi - Lv 7
Make Cake Batter - Lv 7
Prepare Baguette - Lv 7
Prepare Biscuits - Lv 7
Prepare Bread Dough - Lv 7
Prepare Chocolate Chip Cookies - Lv 7
Prepare Chocolate Cookies - Lv 7
Prepare Muffins - Lv 7
Prepare Oatmeal Cookies - Lv 7
Prepare Pie Dough - Lv 7
Prepare Shortbread Cookies - Lv 7
Prepare Sugar Cookies - Lv 8Make Jar of Preserved Food
Recipes that train Cooking
42 recipes award Cooking XP when made; the most per craft (base XP):
Cut Up Chicken · 20 XP
Cut Up Turkey · 20 XP- Make Cake Batter · 10 XP
- Make Guacamole · 10 XP
- Make Jar of Preserved Food · 10 XP
- Prepare Baguette · 10 XP
- Prepare Bread Dough · 10 XP
- Prepare Pie Dough · 10 XP
- Prepare Pizza · 10 XP
Carve Pumpkin · 3 XP
Make Bowl of Beans · 3 XP
Make Gravy · 3 XP
Make Meat Patty · 3 XP
Pour Bowl of Cereal · 3 XP
Pour Bowl of Oatmeal · 3 XP- Prepare 2 Breaded Onion Rings · 3 XP
More skills
Carpentry32,775 XP to 10
Carving32,775 XP to 10
Electrical32,775 XP to 10
Glassmaking32,775 XP to 10
Knapping32,775 XP to 10
Masonry32,775 XP to 10
Blacksmithing32,775 XP to 10
Mechanics32,775 XP to 10
Pottery32,775 XP to 10
Tailoring32,775 XP to 10
Welding32,775 XP to 10- All skills →35 in Build 42
- /addxp and other commandsAdmin commands
Pictures: item and trait icons and the health-panel figure are The Indie Stone's game art; item renders and shop signs are from PZwiki (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0).
Project Zomboid is a game by The Indie Stone. PinDrop is fan-made and not affiliated with The Indie Stone.