Cooking in Stardew Valley is a crucial aspect of the game that allows players to restore energy, gain buffs, and complete various quests. To cook, players must first obtain a kitchen, which can be built in their farmhouse after upgrading it. Once the kitchen is built, players can interact with the stove to access the cooking menu.
Cooking requires ingredients, which can be obtained from foraging, fishing, farming, or purchasing from various shops in the game. There are a wide variety of recipes available, ranging from simple dishes like salads and omelets to more complex meals like cakes and stews. Each recipe requires a specific combination of ingredients, and players can experiment with different combinations to create new dishes.