World of Warcraft is not a simple Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) that you can just breeze through. Besides the importance of leveling your character and Raiding for better equipment, you also have side activities to keep you busy in between. For example, increasing the level of your Profession will give you the potential to acquire valuable items or powerful potions. You also have the opportunity to increase your Hero's potential even more by learning more valuable tools with the Secondary Professions. In this WoW Classic Cooking and Fishing guide, we’ll discuss the possibility of this worthwhile Profession and argue why it can be helpful to your account.
The Art of Cooking
Cooking is the fine art of managing food and preparing it for consumption. Everybody appreciates it, but only a few know the legitimate ways to handle this task. This type of craftsmanship has been with us since our ancestors created a catalog of what we can taste and what we need to avoid. World of Warcraft somehow seems to want to emulate the ways of the real world in their fantasy setting. In WoW, we see some of the Cooking skill’s intricacies in a somewhat less complicated fashion.
Before you get started, make sure to store all the cooking recipes and keep all the usable loot (like meat) safe in the bank so that when the time comes, you’ll be able to prepare some of the best meals in the game. Depending on your Cooking level and the materials, you’ll get the chance to develop items that can do many things besides universal healing, which is why this Secondary Profession is a must-have if you want to participate in some Raids in the game.
How Does Cooking Help Your Character?
Besides the apparent healing factor from all of the meals (for health and mana), there are other ways that the rarest meals can improve your performance. For example, the “Tender Wolf Steak” can heal for 1392 health, plus give you Stamina +12 and Spirit +12 for 15 min. Similar meals can provide further increases in stats for your character. Due to these peculiar adjustments, Guilds in World of Warcraft tend to have a couple of members with Cooking maxed out. This gives the group mighty meals to aid them in Raids that can help tanks endure more damage or increase the attack for the DPS (Damage Per Second) players.
On the other hand, you always have the option to sell your mighty meals in the Market. Making your Secondary Profession another tool to increase the gold income and become rich in the world of Azeroth. In other words, even if you do not practice Raiding, you can always gain a positive outcome when you max out Cooking.
When Can You Start Cooking Meals?
Like all of the Professions in World of Warcraft, you need to reach level 5 in your character and have one copper coin available. Afterward, you can increase Cooking as your character reaches the higher levels in Classic.
What’s the Cooking Guide for the Alliance?
- Reach level 5 and find the first trainer (remember to ask a guard for guidance) around the main cities.
- To unlock Expert Cooking, buy the cookbook from Shandrina in Ashenvale.
- To unlock Artisan Cooking, pick up the quest “I Know A Guy…” from Daryl Riknussun in Ironforge.
What’s the Cooking Guide for the Horde?
- Reach level 5 and find the first trainer (remember to ask a guard for guidance) around the main cities.
- To unlock Expert Cooking, buy the cookbook from Wulan in Desolace.
- To unlock Artisan Cooking, pick up the quest “To Gadgetzan You Go!” from Zamja in Orgrimmar.
Trainers
Alliance Cooking Trainers
- Alegorn: Darnassas (50, 36)
- Cook Ghilm: Dun Morogh (75, 52)
- Crystal Boughman: Redridge Mountains (22, 40)
- Daryl Riknussun: Ironforge (60, 36)
- Gremlock Pilsnor: Dun Morogh (54, 50)
- Stephen Ryback: Stormwind City (77, 53)
- Tomas: Goldshire, Elwynn Forest (44.2, 66)
- Zarrin: Dolanaar, Teldrassil (57, 61.2)
Horde Cooking Trainers
- Aska Mistrunner: Thunder Bluff (51, 52)
- Eunice Burch: The Undercity (62, 44)
- Mudduk: Stranglethorn Vale (37, 49)
- Pyall Silentstride: Mulgore (45, 57)
- Slagg: Arathi Highlands (69, 34)
- Zamja: Orgrimmar (57, 53)
WoW Classic Cooking Leveling Guide 1-300
Like any profession in World of Warcraft, you have different trainers who require different cooking and character levels. In this case, you have the following:
- Apprentice Cooking: Requires level 5 and costs one silver to start this adventure.
- Journeyman Cooking: Requires level 10 and Cooking Level 50.
- Expert Cooking: Requires level 20 and Cooking Level 125. You need to buy the “Expert Cookbook” for one Gold.
- Artisan Cooking: Requires level 35 and Cooking Level 225. Also, you need to complete a quest to unlock the last part of this Secondary Profession.
Leveling 1-50
You'll only need to pick one of the recipes below to level cooking from 1-50.
| Level | Recipe | Materials |
| 1-50 | 55 Charred Wolf Meat | 55 Stringy Wolf Meat |
| 1-50 | 55 Roasted Boar Meat | 55 Chunk of Boar Meat |
| 1-50 | 55 Brilliant Smallfish | 55 Raw Brilliant Smallfish |
| 1-50 | 55 Slitherskin Mackerel | 55 Raw Slitherskin Mackerel |
Leveling 50-100
You'll only need to pick one of the recipes below to level cooking from 50-100.
| Level | Recipe | Materials |
| 50-100 | 65-75 Smoked Beat Meat | 65-75 Bear Meat |
| 50-100 | 55 Boiled Clams | 55 Clam Meat 55 Refreshing Spring Water |
| 50-100 | 55 Coyote Steak | 55 Coyote Meat |
| 50-100 | 55 Longjaw Mud Snapper | 55 Raw Longjaw Mud Snapper |
| 50-100 | 55 Rainbow Fin Albacore | 55 Raw Rainbow Fin Albacore |
| 50-100 | 55 Strider Stew | 55 Strider Meat 55 Shiny Red Apple |
Leveling 100-130
You'll only need to pick one of the recipes below to level cooking from 100-130.
| Level | Recipe | Materials |
| 100-130 | 40 Crab Cake | 40 Crawler Meat |
| 100-130 | 35 Dry Pork Ribs | 35 Boar Ribs |
| 100-130 | 30 Bristle Whisker Catfish | Raw Bristle Whisker Catfish |
| 100-130 | 35 Cooked Crab Claw | 35 Crawler Claw |
Leveling 130-175
| Level | Recipe | Materials |
| 130-175 | 50 Curiously Tasty Omelet | 50 Raptor Egg |
Leveling 175-225
| Level | Recipe | Materials |
| 175-225 | 50 Roast Raptor | 50 Raptor Flesh |
Leveling 225-275
You'll only need to pick one of the recipes below to level cooking from 225-275.
| Level | Recipe | Materials |
| 225-275 | 65 Undermine Clam Chowder | 130 Zesty Clam Meat 65 Ice Cold Milk |
| 225-275 | 65 Spotted Yellowtail | 65 Raw Spotted Yellowtail |
| 225-275 | 65 Monster Omelet | 65 Giant Egg |
| 225-275 | 65 Tender Wolf Steak | 65 Tender Wolf Meat |
| 225-275 | 65 Filet of Redgill | 65 Raw Redgill |
Leveling 275-300
You'll only need to pick one of the recipes below to level cooking from 275-300.
| Level | Recipe | Materials |
| 275-300 | 35 Poached Sunscale Salmon | 35 Raw Sunscale Salmon |
| 275-300 | 35 Nightfin Soup | 35 Raw Nightfin Snapper |
Additional Cooking Tips
- Preparing Meals: to start earning points in this Cooking Profession, you need to be close to any fire source. You can either start a fire, look for a campfire, or find a chimney in any inn to achieve this. If you want to start a campfire in any part of Azeroth, you’ll need both “Flint and Tinder” and “Simple Wood” in your inventory.
- Buying Ingredients: In WoW, different recipes require multiple ingredients to complete a meal. NPCs (Non-Playable Characters), especially the General Goods Vendors, can give you some of these items for a lower price. Sadly, this option is only viable in the early stages of this secondary profession.
- Questing for the Goods: Some of the tasks you’ll undertake will require you to hunt and kill several monsters. Depending on the map, you’ll get the chance to acquire ingredients while leveling your character. Taking this into consideration, always keep an eye on what you’re selling to the merchants.
How to Master the Art of Fishing with Cooking
WoW Classic isn’t all about adrenaline-pumping adventures where you crawl through dungeons and slay monsters all day long. You’ll also need other activities to balance the excitement and find equilibrium. One possible activity is to find a body of water (can either be a lake, a river, or even the sea) and spend some time fishing. You may also find some answers to your troubles while doing so.
Players tend to increase both Cooking and Fishing simultaneously since you’ll need some types of Fish as ingredients to cook exceptional food. Here are the recipes to do so.
Leveling Cooking with Fish 1-50
| Level | Recipe | Materials |
| 1-50 | 50 Brilliant Smallfish | 50 Raw Brilliant Smallfish |
Leveling Cooking with Fish 150-225
| Level | Recipe | Materials |
| 50-100 | 50 Longjaw Mud Snapper | 50 Raw Longjaw Mud Snapper |
| 100-150 | 50 Bristle Whisker Catfish | 50 Raw Bristle Whisker Catfish |
| 150-175 | 70 Bristle Whisker Catfish | 70 Raw Bristle Whisker Catfish |
| 175-225 | 60 Mithril Headed Trout | 60 Raw Mithril Head Trout |
Leveling Cooking with Fish 225-300
| Level | Recipe | Materials |
| 225-275 | 70 Spotted Yellowtail | 70 Raw Spotted Yellowtail |
| 275-300 | 25 Mightfish Steak | 25 Large Raw Mightfish 25 Hot Spices 25 Soothing Spices |
What Are the Best Cooking Recipes?
It all depends on the Class of your Character; some recipes can give you increased main stats or increase your mana/energy.
| Buff | Recipe | Phase | Effect | Recipe Location |
| Mana | Runn Tum Tuber Surprise | Phase 1 | Intellect +10, 10 Min | Pusillin in Dire Maul East |
| Mana | Nightfin Soup | Phase 1 | +8 Mana per 5, 10 min | Gikkix at Steamwheedle Port, Tanaris |
| Stamina | Tender Wolf Steak | Phase 1 | Stamina +12 and Spirit +12, 15 min | Innkeeper Fizzgrimble in Gadgetzan, Tanaris |
| Stamina | Monster Omelet | Phase 1 | Stamina +12 and Spirit +12, 15 min | Himmik in Everlook, Winterspring |
| Stamina | Spiced Chili Crab | Phase 1 | Stamina +12 and Spirit +12, 15 min | Kriggon Talsone at the Lighthouse in Westfall or Uthok in Grom'Gol, STV |
| Stamina | Dirge's Kickin' Chimaerok Chops | Phase 5 | Stamina +25, 15 min | Earned as Part of the Scepter of the Shifting Sands Questline |
| Melee | Smoked Desert Dumplings | Phase 4 |
Strength +20, 15 min |
Desert Recipe Quest from Calandrath in Cenarion Hold, Silithus |
| Melee | Grilled Squid | Phase 1 | Agility +10, 10 min | Gikkix at Steamwheedle Port, Tanaris |
| Melee | Thistle Tea | Phase 1 | Restore 100 Energy | Earned from Rogue Class Questline |
| Melee | Dragonbreath Chili | Phase 1 | Proc Deals Cone of 60 Fire Damage, 10 min | Helenia Olden in Theramore or Ogg'marr in Brackenwall Village, Dustwallow Marsh |
| Misc. | Savory Deviate Delight | Phase 1 | Transform into a Pirate or Ninja, 60 min | Savannah Huntress, Savannah Highmane, and Savannah Patriarch in the Barrens |
All Cooking Recipes
Final Advice
Cooking in World of Warcraft Classic is not just about preparing meals, but an essential Secondary Profession that enhances your gameplay experience. Whether you're supporting your raid group with powerful buffs, leveling up alongside your Fishing skill, or earning gold by selling your creations, Cooking offers a wide array of benefits. Maxing out this Profession will give you access to valuable recipes and ensure you’re ready for anything Azeroth throws your way, whether you're preparing for a difficult raid or looking to make some extra gold.
