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Levelling up Cooking in WoW

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• Levelling Cooking from 1 to 375
  
  • 1-75
  • 75-150
  • 150 to 225
  • 225 to 300
  • 300 to 375
  • 375 to 450 to come with Wrath of the Lich King
    
    
• Daily Cooking Quest
  
  
• Stamina food buffs
  
  
• Agility, Attack Power and Hit food buffs
  
  
• Strength food buffs
  
  
• Spell power and spell critical food buffs
  
  
• Healing power food buff
  
  
• Resistance food buff
  
  
• Pet food buff
  
  
• Damage and Misc food buffs
  
  
• WoW cooking Links
  
  
  

Levelling up Cooking from 1 to 75

The best way to level up cooking is to work on your fishing at the same time. If you are level 35 or higher you can of course be lazy and buy all the recipes and ingredients in Auction House and level up in the time it takes to cook a few hundred recipes. Ideally though, you might as well do it as you progress. For buying recipes I have just listed the easiest/most obvious traders, rather than all. I did have lots of options but I have culled it for the optimal paths:


Apprentice Cooking: 1 to 75

1-75 [Recipe: Brilliant Smallfish]
[Raw Brilliant Smallfish] can be caught in the waters of the capital cities, as well as several lower level zones.
Recipe sold in or near most cities including:

(Alliance): Catherine Leland in the canals of Stormwind and Gretta Ganter near Brewnall Village, Dun Morogh.
(Horde): Harn Longcast in Mulgore and Lizbeth Cromwell in Undercity

And / or

1-75 [Recipe: Slitherskin Mackerel]
You can fish for [Raw Slitherskin Mackerel] in a several coastal areas, including Darkshore and Westfall. They are also dropped by low level coastal creatures like Murlocs also drop Raw Slitherskin Mackerel)
Recipe sold by:

(Alliance): Tansy Puddlefizz in Ironforge or Nessa Shadowsong, Rut'theran Village, outside Darnassus
(Horde): Zansoa in Sen'jin Village, Durotar or Martine Tramblay found near Brill in Tirisfal Glades.

And / or

1-40 [Spice Bread]
You can buy the ingredients from numberous traders.
Recipe for this is sold by: Cooking trainers

40-75 [Charred Wolf Meat] or [Spiced Wolf Meat]
Kill low level wolves for [Stringy Wolf Meat] and cook. The later gives +2 Stamina and Spirit for 15 min.
Recipe(s) are sold by: Cooking trainers

Journeyman Cooking: Levelling up Cooking from 75 to 150

75-110 (130) [recipe: Longjaw Mud Snapper]
[Raw Longjaw Mud Snappers] can be caught in the waters of the capital cities, as well as several lower level zones.
The recipe is sold by several innkeepers etc, including:

(Alliance): Caregiver Breel in The Exodar, Talaelar in Darnassus and Khara Deepwater in Loch Modan (banks behind town)
(Horde): Innkeeper Velandra in Silvermoon City,
(Neutral): Innkeeper Skindle in Booty Bay, Kilxx in Ratchett and Oloraak, Lower City, Shattrath

And / or

75-110 (130) [Boiled Clams]
[Clam meat] can be had from clams dropped by most level 7 to 22 coastal mobs like crabs, Murloc and Naga.
Like the snappers above, you can train this to 130, at which point it turns grey.
Recipe for this is sold by: Cooking trainers

Then

110 to 150 (210) [Bristle Whisker Catfish]
You can fish for [Raw Bristle Whisker Catfish] in the waters of the capital cities, as well as several lower level zones. Can be cooked until it turns grey at 180. Good for getting your fishing skill up.
The recipe is sold by:

(Alliance): Catherine Leland in Stormwind City and Lindea Rabonne in Southshore, Hillsbrad Foothills
(Horde): Naal Mistrunner in Thunder Bluff and Ronald Burch in Undercity
(Neutral): Kilxx in Ratchett

Then / also

130 to 150 (210) [Recipe: Curiously Tasty Omelet]
Uses spices and [Raptor Eggs], dropped by Raptors in Wetlands, Stranglethorn Vale and Arathi.

(Alliance) Recipe is a reward from the (alliance) quest: 'Ormer's Revenge Alliance' in Wetlands, or can be bought from Kendor Kabonka in Stormwind.
(Horde) Recipe is sold by Keena in Hammerfall, Arathi and by Nerrist in Grom'gol Base camp, Stranglethorn Vale.

Expert Cooking: Levelling up Cooking from 150 to 225

Note:
At 150 you'll need to buy the [Expert Cookbook] in order to continue skilling up to 225.
This is bought for 1g from Shandrina in Silverwind Refuge, Ashenvale if you're Alliance or Wulan in Shadowprey Village, Desolace for Horde. Or AH for about 3g to 5g if you don't fancy the trek.


150 to 175 (210) [Raw Bristle Whisker Catfish] / [Curiously Tasty Omelet]
Continue with these, as detailed above. (110 to 150).
If you have a tonne of fish from levelling up fishing feel free to leave this cooking until it turns grey at 210


175 to 225 [Recipe: Mithril Head Trout]
[Raw Mithril Head Trout] can be caught by fishing in the waters of mid-level zones such as Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Dustwallow Marsh and Desolace.
The recipe is sold by a few fishing suppliers including:

(Alliance): Stuart Fleming in Menethil Harbor, Wetlands, Tansy Puddlefizz in Ironforge and
(Horde): Wulan in Shadowprey Village, Desolace, Shankys in Orgimmar and Lizbeth Cromwell in Undercity
(Neutral): Kelsey Yance in Booty Bay.

And / or

175 to 225 [Roast Raptor]
Uses spices and [Raptor Flesh], dropped by level 30 to 50 Raptors throughout Wetlands, Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Dustwallow Marsh and Un'guro. Also gives you +8 to Stamina and Spirit for 15 min.
The recipe is sold by:

(Alliance) Recipe is sold by Corporal Bluth in the Rebel Camp to the north of Stranglethorn Vale, Helenia Olden, Theramore, Dustwallow Marsh and Hammon Karwn, Refuge Pointe, Arathi Highlands.
(Horde) Recipe is sold by Keena in Hammerfall, Arathi, Nerrist in Grom'gol Base camp, Stranglethorn Vale and Ogg'marr in Brackenwall Village, Dustwallow Marsh.

Artisan Cooking: Levelling up Cooking from 225 to 300

To progress past 225 you need to be at least level 35 to take the quest [Clamlette Surprise].
For an extra few xp points you can talk to the cooking trainer in Ironforge (or Orgrimmar for Horde) before heading of to the main quest giver: Dirge Quikcleave in Gadgetzan, Tanaris. If you want to be prepared to instantly complete the quest - either by shopping around/hunting or Auction House - here's what he wants:

• 12 [Giant Egg]s (best farmed from the Owlbears in Hinterlands)
  
  
• 10 [Zesty Clam Meat] (found inside [Big-mouth Clam], as dropped by level 35 to 55 coastal mobs like turtles and Naga
  
  
• 20 [Alterac Swiss] cheese, which are sold by various traders, including:
  (Alliance): Ben and Elaine Trias in Stormwind and Innkeeper Anderson in Southshore, Hillsbrad
  (Horde): Innkeeper Abeqwa in Freewind Post, Thousand Needles and (presumably his brother) Innkeeper Adegwa in Hammerfall
  (Neutral): Galgrom in the Caverns of Time, Southeast of Gadgetzan. (Inside the caves, not the instances).
  
  

225 to 250 (275) [Recipe: Tender Wolf Steak]
Tender Wolf Meat is dropped by level 40 to 60 wolves throughout. The cooked steaks do require level 40 to eat, but restore 1,392 health and buffs for 12 Stamina and Spirit for 15 min.
The recipe is sold by:

(Neutral): The recipe is sold by Dirge Quikcleave in Gadgetzan, Tanaris, so you may as well get it from him when you do the Artisan quest.

And / or


225 to 250 (275) [Filet of Redgill]
[Raw Redgill] can be caught in most inland lakes and rivers in the level 40 to 60 range. This includes Feralas, Felwood, Un'guro, Plagueland and The Hinterlands.
This can be very good if you fish in Jademir Lake, Feralis, as you can also land [Raw Whitescale Salmon] for [Recipe: Baked Salmon], listed below. This would get you all the way to 300, 325 if you had the Mastery book handy.
The recipe is sold by:

(Neutral): Kelsey Yance in Booty Bay.

250 to 275 (295) [Recipe: Nightfin Soup] / [Recipe: Poached Sunscale Salmon]
[Raw Nightfin Snapper] and [Sunscale Salmon] can be caught in the same pools as Redgill above, but Feralas does seem to have the best drop rates. This one is great for casters, particularly healers is it's buff restores 8 Mana every 5 seconds for 10 min., thought strangely the salmon is only good for 6 mp5.
The recipes are sold by:

(Neutral): Gikkix in Booty Bay.

250 to 275/285 (295) [Juicy Bear Burger] / [Charred Bear Kabobs]
One of my favourites, particularly if you have skinning. [Bear Flank]s drop best in Felwood, I find, though most of the level 47 to 58 bears in Felwood, Winterspring and Plaguelands drop them.
[Juicy Bear Burger] is great for casters as it buffs you to increase your spell damage and healing by up to 14 for 15 min.
Cook the [Charred Bear Kabobs] is you are a hunter or melee type to gain 24 attack power for 15 min. The recipes are sold by:

(Alliance): Malygen in Felwood
(Horde): Bale in Felwood

285 to 300 (335) [Smoked Desert Dumpling]
Over to Silithus next where you need to start the three part quest [Desert Recipe] with the innkeeper, Calandrath. (Requires level 54 and 285 cooking). The quest gets you the recipe and then asks you to cook 10 of the dumblings. Nice food for warriors too as it buffs 20 Strength for 15 min.


And / or


275 to 300 (325) [Recipe: Baked Salmon]
The [Raw Whitescale Salmon] for this can be caught in Plaguelands and other areas, but you'll find it a lot easier to fish in Jademir Lake in Feralis.
Personally I wouldn't bother, but if you want to take the fishing route you can also catch [Darkclaw Lobster] and [Large Raw Mightfish] in Azshara, particularly around Scalebeard's Cave. Needs a high fishing skill though (330 to 400 or better) and the natives are anything but friendly.
The recipe(s) are sold in Feralas:

(Alliance): Vivianna, Feathermoon Stronghold
(Horde): Sheendra Tallgrass, Camp Mojache

Master Cooking: Levelling up Cooking from 300 to 375

To continue skilling up past 300 you will need to buy another tome: the [Master Cookbook]. this can be bought for 2g from:

(Alliance): Gaston, the chef in the inn at Honor Hold
(Horde): Baxter, the chef in the inn at Thrallmar
(Neutral): Naka in the inn at the Cenarion Refuge, Zangermarsh

At 300 the chooses are more personal and many recipes offer food buffs. These are good when grinding, great for instances and essential for raids. 300 health from food here, an extra 44 healing there, 23 bonus spell damage elsewhere all adds up and can often make the difference between taking down a boss and wiping at 1%. The number of times you hear, I couldn't be bothered levelling cooking / fishing

Anyway, skinners might way to take the hunting method, though all are adviced to maximise fishing, if only on one alt. I've given both below, though you may want to temper this with the food that gives you the most benefit (see the main menu at the top).

Taking the fishing path

300 to 320 (340) [Recipe: Blackened Trout]
Terrokar, Zangermarsh and Nagrands pools, lakes and rivers are teaming with [Barbed Gill Trout] and, missed casts aside, it's easy to catch 80 to 100 in an hour. Best fishing in Terrokar though are you can use the Golden Darter you also catch. Hunters never need let their cats pout again! You may need to do a few quests to get neutral with the vendor(s), but if you are impatient you can always ask a friend if they can buy it for you or look in auction house.
The recipe is sold by

(Alliance): Dobra in Orebor Harborage, Zangermarsh (requires Neutral with the Kurenai)
(Horde): Gambarinka, Zabra'jin, Zangarmarsh (may require Neutral with the Mag'har).

320 to 340 (355) [Stewed Trout]
The rest of your [Barbed Gill Trout] can be put to use with this recipe that can be learned from Kylene, in the World's End Tavern, Lower City of Shattrath. (May require cooking 315 to learn). Note that you talk to her to get the recipes, there aren't in her (vendor) drinks list. She also teaches [Fisherman's Feast] and [Hot Buttered Trout].
This recipe also requires a [Flask of Port] and some [Soothing Spices] but these are only a silver each. Recipe turns grey at 355.

(325) to 350 (365) [Golden Fish Sticks]
Use the [Golden Darter] you hopefully caught earlier to cook these. Great for healers as they buff you, increasing Spellpower by 23 (was originally healing 44) and Spirit by 20 for 30 min. Apparently Raastok Glade in Terrokar is said to have the best drop rate for these.
The recipe is sold by:

(Alliance): Innkeeper Biribi, Allerian Stronghold, Terokkar Forest
(Horde): Rungor at Stonebreaker Hold, Terokkar Forest

350 to 375 [Recipe: Spicy Crawdad]
The ultimate tank food, it buffs for 30 Stamina and 20 Spirit for 30 min. However, the main ingredient is [Furious Crawdad] which is only caught in Highland Mixed Pools in mountain lakes of Terokkar Forest, specifically : Lake Jorune, Lake Ere'Noru, and Blackwind Lake. The place is only accessible by flying (or Warlock summons) and you really need 375 fishing and lures and extra's to fish here with any amount of success. As with the fish sticks above, the recipe is sold by:

(Alliance): Innkeeper Biribi, Allerian Stronghold, Terokkar Forest
(Horde): Rungor at Stonebreaker Hold, Terokkar Forest

Taking the hunting path

I'll be lazy here and just link to the revelant cooking entries for the rest. The links will, of course, explain where to get the recipes, where's best to farm the meat and so forth. As buzzard and ravengers form a number of the early Outlands quests in Hellfire Peninsula most playewrs are likely to encounter these, but those with the skinning profession will naturally reap the most rewards for these.

300 to 325 (340) Buzzard Bites (stamina) and/or Ravager Dog (Attack Power)

(315) to 335 (355) Blackened Basilisk (Spellpower)

(325) to 345 (365) Talbuk Steak (Stamina) / Roasted Clefthoof (Strength) / Warp Burger (Agility)

(335) to 375 Mok'Nathal Shortribs (stamina) / Crunchy Serpent (Spellpower)

Grandmaster Cooking (?): Levelling up Cooking from 375 to 450

To come with Wrath of the Lich King.