OSRS Cooking training guide 1-99: best methods, XP rates and profit (2026)

Cooking basics: ranges, fires, and burn rates

Cooking in OSRS can be done at a range or a fire. Ranges provide a burn rate reduction compared to fires, making them the preferred method for training. The best ranges in the game offer a 0% burn rate for most fish at 99 Cooking, ensuring no food is wasted.

The Cooking Guild range and the Hosidius range are tied for the best ranges in the game. Both provide the maximum burn rate reduction. The Cooking Guild is accessible with 32 Cooking and the Cooking Guild teleport (or Varrock armour teleport). The Hosidius range previously required 100% Hosidius favour, but the 2025 rework removed the reputation requirement, making it freely accessible.

The Cooking Guild range is often preferred because of its proximity to a bank — the Cooking Guild master chef and the bank chest are a few steps apart. The Hosidius range is also close to a bank but requires a short run through the Hosidius market. Both are excellent choices.

Burn rates decrease with Cooking level. At 99 Cooking with the best range, most fish have a 0% burn rate, meaning every fish you cook succeeds. This is what makes Cooking profitable at high levels — you buy raw, cook, and sell the cooked product for a consistent profit margin.

1-99 Cooking training path

Level 1-15: Cook shrimp or sardines on a fire. These are cheap or free (shrimp from fishing tutors). Minimal cost, minimal XP. Expect ~10K XP/hr.

Level 15-30: Cook trout or herring at a range. Trout are caught with fly fishing and provide decent XP for the level. Move to salmon at 25. Expect ~30K XP/hr.

Level 30-45: Cook salmon or tuna. Tuna provides solid XP and starts to be profitable. At 40, switch to lobsters for a mix of XP and profit. Expect ~50K-70K XP/hr.

Level 45-80: This is the wine-making phase. Cooking grapes into jugs of wine is the fastest Cooking XP in the game at 330K+ XP/hr. It requires 35 Cooking, grapes, and jugs of water. The time to bank makes it intense but fast. This is the standard method for speedruns to 99.

Level 80-94: Karambwan. Cook karambwan at the Hosidius range or Cooking Guild. At 250K+ XP/hr and 700+ GP profit per fish, karambwan is the best balance of speed and profit. This is the most popular method for 80-99.

Level 94-99: Anglerfish or dark crabs. Anglerfish provide 200K XP/hr at a profit. Dark crabs provide 220K XP/hr but require 99 Fishing or buying from the GE. Both are excellent options for the final stretch.

• 1-15: Shrimp/sardine (fire, cheap, ~10K XP/hr)
• 15-30: Trout/herring (range, ~30K XP/hr)
• 30-45: Salmon/tuna (range, ~50-70K XP/hr)
• 45-80: Wines (range, 330K+ XP/hr, fastest method)
• 80-94: Karambwan (range, 250K XP/hr, +700 GP profit each)
• 94-99: Anglerfish (200K XP/hr, profit) or dark crabs (220K XP/hr)

Cooking profit analysis: how much GP per hour?

Cooking is unique among OSRS skills because it is profitable at almost every level. The profit comes from the difference between raw material cost and cooked product price. Here are the estimated profit rates at key levels:

Level 45-80 (wines): Wines are XP-focused, not profit. Expect to break even or lose a small amount (10K-50K GP/hr loss). This is the only phase where cooking costs money.

Level 80-94 (karambwan): Raw karambwan cost ~420 GP each, cooked sell for ~1,200+ GP. At 1,200+ fish cooked per hour (2-tick), this is 700+ GP profit per fish × 1,200 = 840K+ GP/hr. This is one of the most profitable skilling methods in the game.

Level 94-99 (anglerfish): Raw anglerfish cost ~1,800 GP, cooked sell for ~2,200+ GP. At 800+ fish per hour, this is ~320K GP/hr profit. Dark crabs are similar but with slightly higher volume.

Overall, Cooking from 80-99 can earn you 50M+ GP in profit while training. This makes it one of the best skills for building an early-game bank while also being one of the fastest to 99.