Cooking in Paralives: Guide to Preparing Food and Unlocking All Recipes
In Paralives, cooking is not just a way to satisfy your Parafolk's hunger. It's a whole system of leveling up, exploring the world, and social interaction. In this guide, we'll break down everything from the basics to advanced methods: how to cook, which skills to level, and most importantly, how to unlock over 90 recipes available at the start of early access.
Basic Cooking Principles: One Fridge, Endless Possibilities
In Paralives, only characters aged Teen and older can cook. Children, Toddlers, and Infants are completely dependent on older Sims and simply eat prepared food. To cook a dish, you only need a functioning kitchen. It all starts with the fridge – it serves as the main "entry point" to the cooking system. Simply click on the fridge and choose "Cook" to see the list of all currently available recipes.
Cooking is not free: every time you prepare a dish, the cost of ingredients is deducted from your household funds. Keep in mind that cooking is unavailable if the fridge is broken or the power has been turned off due to unpaid bills – settle your invoices first.
Single Serving or Family Meal: Portion Settings
Before you start cooking, you will need to choose a portion type:
- Single Portion – a serving for one character. Perfect for single Parafolk.
- Group Portion – a dish with multiple servings. If you have a large family, this option saves time. After the cook takes their share, other family members can click on the food and take their own portion.
The type of kitchen appliance used depends on the chosen recipe: simple dishes (e.g., instant noodles) are prepared in the microwave, while more complex ones are made in the oven or on the stovetop.
How to Unlock New Recipes: 7 Simple Ways
At the start of the game, your Parafolk only has access to a few simple dishes. To unlock the remaining 90 recipes available in early access, you'll need to put in some effort.
Level Up Cooking & Food Knowledge Skills
The Food Knowledge skill directly affects the Cooking skill. The higher your Food Knowledge, the faster you level up Cooking. And increasing Cooking, in turn, also grants experience for Food Knowledge.
The most reliable method is to cook over and over again to raise your Cooking skill. As it grows, new, more complex dishes will unlock naturally. Emotions also matter: if your Parafolk is sad or sick, their skills will increase much more slowly.
Learn from the Computer and Books
On the computer, select "Learn about…" → "Food". Your character will spend several hours on this activity, raising only Food Knowledge without earning Cooking XP.
You can also pick up a "Food book" from a bookshelf – but you’ll need to buy one and place it in your home first.
Share Dishes with Friends
Invite friends over for dinner and treat them to your culinary creations. When another Parafolk tastes your dish, they have a chance to become "inspired" and permanently learn that recipe. This method allows recipes to be shared within the community.
Research Recipes on the Computer
In the computer menu, there is a separate option called "Research New Recipes". Leave your Parafolk at this task for a few hours, and they may discover a previously unknown dish.
Find Inspiration While Sleeping
If your character has earned the appropriate perk, they may occasionally dream about cooking, which can significantly boost their skills or unlock new recipes. Keep an ear to the ground.
Visit Your Neighbors
You can use refrigerators in other people's homes, restaurants, and community lots. This gives you access to recipes at any time.
Complete Food Bundles at the Community Center
Interact with the red book at the Community Center located in Old Town. To complete a Food Bundle, you either need to find rare mushrooms or cook specific dishes. Once you turn in the bundle, you will receive a reward – and usually, new recipes to cook. You can check the full list of recipe requirements in our other article.
Use Cheats for Fast Progression
If you don't have time to wait, you can always use the built‑in console. Press Ctrl + F1 and enter one of the following commands:
- SETSKILLLEVEL KNOWLEDGEFOOD X – raises Food Knowledge to the desired level.
- LEVELUPSKILL – increases the selected skill by one level.
- LEARNALLSKINS RECIPES – unlocks all recipes tied to the skill (other knowledge also contributes).
For the complete list of all Paralives cheats, check out this article.
Cooking in Paralives is not just a chore; it's an important part of your family's development and interacting with other Parafolk. Don't forget to regularly level up your cooking skill and invite guests over for dinner, because tasting your food might give them a chance to learn a few secrets!
