Underrated Foods?

[Giant Octopodes]

There's a lot of recipes in the game, a lot of which don't get any attention that I've seen but which are quite useful and good. Here's a spot to call out any recipes you've been eyeing or using which maybe don't get as much spotlight.

Lobster Bisque: It gives Fishing +3, only one less than Seafoam Pudding, and it lasts 16m (all day) instead of only 3m for Seafoam Pudding. Best of all, it only takes milk (which is typically readily available)and a lobster, which is available all year long from crab pots and which reproduces every 3 days in a fish pond. If someone is struggling with fishing, I think this is a Great recipe to have and use regularly to drastically improve your odds.

Pumpkin Soup: While Lucky Lunch gives +3 luck, this gives +2 luck and +2 defense. It lasts for 7 1/2 minutes vs 11 minutes sure, but it also only takes a milk and a pumpkin, compared to lucky lunch requiring sea cucumbers, blue jazz, and corn (for a tortilla). As such it's easy to make, and it's perfect for situations where you're ignoring enemies and farming for treasure chests in the skull cavern, and not bad for dangerous content involving the skull cavern or the mines. It's no Rock candy, and lacks the speed boost of spicy eel, but it's pretty great and it's Very easy to make.

What else is out there that maybe doesn't get the attention it deserves?

 

[imnvs]

Well, normally all I'm eating are Pepper Poppers or Spicy Eel, and I suck down Triple Espresso like it's water...

...but when I go fishing? The fact that Lobster Bisque is almost as good as Seafoam Pudding (and then you can add Qi Seasoning) but has so much longer duration, I have to back this up. My favorite fishing food.

 

[TegridyFarms]

When I was descending the mines I loved Autumn's bounty, the +2 Defense for combat and the +2 Foraging for when you get to random grassy patches. Just a pumpkin and a Yam which are always easy!

 

[Lew Zealand]

IMO Dish O' the Sea is somewhat underrated because you get 5 for free when finishing one of the Community Center Bundles, which you can then use in a challenge to catch the 5 Legendary Fish. Use one per Legend, or use none for the easier ones like the Mutant Carp and maybe 2 for the Legend himself. However it only lasts 5.6 minutes in-game. It's fairly cheap to make but you need either (1) to be at Mid Spring Year 2 with Farming Level 8 for the Recipe+Oil Maker or (2) Marriage Level 10 for the Penny spouse.

Of course (2) has other benefits as well.

 

[Lew Zealand]

Some I forgot, and I like to lean on things accessible in early game as IMO Buffs other than Speed are less game-changing for me in later game:

Eggplant Parmesan is a dirt cheap early-midgame Mining food (+1 Mining, +3 Defense), made from Tomato (Su) and Eggplant (Fa) only, both of which are reharvestable. It also restores a lot of Health and Energy. It's only, and of course very minor, drawback is how to get the recipe... you must sell your soul:

7 with Lewis.
_____

Also there's Farmer's Lunch (Farming +3), cheap early game and achievable in Spring Y1, needing only:

Farming Level 3
Omelet (Egg from Chicken in Coop)
Parsnip (Sp)
_____

Another is Fish Stew (Fishing +3), cheap if you have Crab Pots (Fishing Level 3):

7 with Willy
Crayfish, Mussel, Periwinkle
Tomato (Su)

 

[LRangerR]

For me the Field Snack is one of my early game go-to recipes. I know it's not cooking, but it doesn't require a stove to use, and after a certain point the ingredients become readily available.

As for normal foods, I typically go into the caves with a Miner's Treat and Roots Platter, but I've also found that the Maple Bar is a good forager's food, just for everyday stuff when you're doing multiple things at once.

 

[Lew Zealand]

For me the Field Snack is one of my early game go-to recipes. I know it's not cooking, but it doesn't require a stove to use, and after a certain point the ingredients become readily available.

+10 on this! The Field Snack is the second thing I crafted in my first game after a Chest. And it's still my Go-To food once that magic Foraging Level 1 pops up. I think I only replace it if I run out (and you can always make more!) but hopefully it's Salmonberry season by then. I don't like the Spring Onions much, Field Snack FTW!

 

[PoppyForPenny]

Once I get the botanist perk, I really like iridium crystal fruit as a no-buff food. It's awesome for restoring health & energy without taking away any buffs.

 

[nicodeux]

Some I forgot, and I like to lean on things accessible in early game as IMO Buffs other than Speed are less game-changing for me in later game:

Eggplant Parmesan is a dirt cheap early-midgame Mining food (+1 Mining, +3 Defense), made from Tomato (Su) and Eggplant (Fa) only, both of which are reharvestable. It also restores a lot of Health and Energy. It's only, and of course very minor, drawback is how to get the recipe... you must sell your soul:

7 with Lewis.
_____

Also there's Farmer's Lunch (Farming +3), cheap early game and achievable in Spring Y1, needing only:

Farming Level 3
Omelet (Egg from Chicken in Coop)
Parsnip (Sp)
_____

Another is Fish Stew (Fishing +3), cheap if you have Crab Pots (Fishing Level 3):

7 with Willy
Crayfish, Mussel, Periwinkle
Tomato (Su)

I must admit that the three of them are underrated by all my farmers without any real reason. Especially Farmer's Lunch which should probably a must have for everyone and Fish Stew for those who have a hard time fishing (or like to fish a lot).

Thanks!

 

[LRangerR]

Fish Stew is really good for early game fishing, but it eventually gets replaced with other meals. The nice thing about Fish Stew though, is you can buy it from Willy for fairly cheap.

Special shoutout to Pale Broth, because otherwise White Algae just takes up space in the chests around the farm. I've found it makes a great mining meal.

 

[hexnessie]

Pale Broth makes a passable health/energy source if you get the recipe early enough - you are going to be finding lots of white algae anyway, so instead of throwing them away, you can cook them.

In the first year, I find that Dish O' The Sea is the easiest +3 fishing recipe to reliably make (as you get the Lobster Bisque only much later). Sardines and potatoes will be plentiful, and later on you can make the oil for hashbrowns yourself. I always use the Dish on my underwater fishing expedition in year 1 to catch the blobfish and pufferfish.

In the second year, Escargot is good for quick energy/health boost and regular fishing - you only need a snail and a garlic. (Yuck, would not eat in real life, yuck. But works in game.)

Field Snack, yes! I live on those. Leave enough trees on your farm and collect all the seeds they dropped overnight = excellent early energy source.

Also, my recent favorite, the gold-quality hops - so, so easy to get, no cooking required, instant huge energy/health boost in summer year 1.

 

[Lew Zealand]

Also, my recent favorite, the gold-quality hops - so, so easy to get, no cooking required, instant huge energy/health boost in summer year 1.

Ackkkk!!!

That's what I forgot on this playthrough! I was gonna do Gold Quality Hops (gross IRL!) for Energy and Summer just came and went. Lol, I'm totally (not) going to remember that for next time!