Getting the right mix of food items in Valheim can make the difference between survival and death in challenging moments. There are a number of different meals and food items that players can craft to boost their stats. This makes the Cauldron an important piece of equipment for players to master in Valheim.
Valheim players will likely be familiar with the Cauldron, but unlocking its full capabilities can be quite the challenge. There are four separate additions that players need to build in order to get the highest level Cauldron. For those Valheim players looking to take advantage of all the Cauldron has to offer, this guide is here to help.
Updated on March 30, 2023: Valheim's Mistlands biome brought a new level to the game's Cauldron, and this guide has been updated to reflect the change. The new item, the Mortar and Pestle, has opened up some new and interesting meals for players to try.
How to Build a Cauldron
The Cauldron becomes available to players after they defeat the first boss in Valheim, Eikthyr. The recipe for this creation requires 10 Tin; players can mine that required material after this boss battle. Once built, activating the Cauldron gives players a list of different food items and drinks they can craft. This list is dependent on what food items players have interacted with in Valheim and grows as players add on to the Cauldron.
How to Make a Spice Rack
The Spice Rack is likely the first upgrade players will want to craft for their Cauldron. This is because of its low cost compared to the other three upgrade additions. This upgrade opens up the option for Sausages, Serpent Stew, and Hearth and Home's new Muckshake. The recipe for the Spice Rack calls for 3 Dandelions, 2 Carrots, 5 Mushrooms, 3 Thistle, and 3 Turnips.
Dandelions grow throughout the Meadows biome and are dropped by Greydwarf Brutes. Carrots and Turnips must be grown, and the Carrot and Turnip Seeds required grow throughout the Black Forest and Swamp Biome, respectively. Mushrooms can be picked off the ground in the Meadows, Black Forest, and Swamp Biomes in Valheim. Meanwhile, Thistle can only be found in the Black Forest and the Swamp Biome.
How to Make a Butcher's Table
The Butcher's Table is likely the next step in the Cauldron Upgrading system, and it requires players to have defeated Bonemass, Valheim's third boss. It opens up Eyescream, Wolf Jerky, and the Wolf Skewer.
The recipe for the Butcher's Table lists 2 Ancient Bark, 4 Core Wood, 4 Fine Wood, and 2 Silver. This last item requires Bonemass's defeat as players who do so acquire the Wishbone, which points players to Silver Ore.
Ancient Bark in Valheim can be gathered in the Swamp Biome from Ancient Trees; Core Wood is collected by cutting down Pine Trees in the Black Forest Biome, while Birch and Oak trees produce Fine Wood. The Silver Ore required to make Silver in a Smelter can be hunted down in the Mountain Biome with the Wishbone activated. This item will let players know where to dig to harvest Silver Ore.
How to Make Pots and Pans
The third upgrade to the Cauldron, Pots and Pans, is an expensive investment. Because metals can't be teleported across the map, this makes creating this upgrade quite the challenge. The recipe calls for 10 Fine Wood, 5 Copper, 5 Iron, and 5 Black Metal. The reward for adding this are the meals Uncooked Lox Pie, Bread Dough, Fish Wraps, and Blood Pudding. These are some of the better food options in Valheim.
Copper Ore can be mined in the Black Forest and used in a Smelter to produce the needed Copper. Iron Scrap is found in the Burial Crypts in the Swamp Biome within Muddy Scrap Piles and the chests inside. The final ingredient, Black Metal Scrap, is dropped by the various types of Fulings in Valheim's Plains Biome and found in the chests in the area. It requires a Blast Furnace to turn it into the needed Black Metal.
How to Make the Mortar and Pestle
As of the Mistlands update, players have four upgrades that can use to improve their Cauldron. The final upgrade for this cooking station is the Mortar and Pestle, and it gets unlocked once players find Black Marble. This material can be mined with a Black Metal Pickaxe from the Ancient Remains that can only be found in the Mistlands. The Mortar and Pestle costs 8 Black Marble, 6 Fine Wood, and 4 Core Wood to build, and it unlocks the best available food options in the entire game.
This lengthy list includes meals such as Seeker Aspic (Health 28, Stamina 14, Eitr 85), Mushroom Omelette (28 Health, 85 Stamina), and Uncooked Misthare Supreme. This final food item can then be cooked in Valheim's Stone Oven in order to be edible. With all of these placed nearby a player's Cauldron, its menu will reflect that it is now at Level 5. This grants players the option to craft nearly every food option and mead base, so long as players are familiar with the ingredients.
Valheim is available now on PC and Xbox.