Food/Cooking is a major survival mechanic in 7 Days to Die. Consuming food/drink grants Fullness, which restores Max Stamina. Without periodic consumption of food/drink, hunger and thirst debilitate the player, slowing movement/action speed and eventually causing death. The player can consume both food and drinks over their respective bars but they are drained fast. The amount representing 20% of both bars are depleted at a slower pace, making the player able to utilize 120% of both food and hydration bar with good efficiency.
Food Ingredients
While these food items can be eaten, it is usually better to use them in recipes to gain much more fullness and hydration. In addition to their low gains, some of them have also a chance of giving the player Dysentery.
Function: CargoSQLQuery::run Query: SELECT CONCAT("File:", Image, "") AS `Icon`,`_pageName` AS `Name`,`Food_Increase` AS `Food`,`Water_Increase` AS `Water`,`Stamina_Increase` AS `Max Stamina`,`Health_Increase` AS `Health`,`Dysentery` AS `Dysentery Chance` FROM `cargo__Items__Name`,`cargo__Items__Subcategory` LEFT OUTER JOIN `cargo__Items` ON ((`cargo__Items__Name`.`_rowID`=`cargo__Items`.`_ID`) AND (`cargo__Items__Subcategory`.`_rowID`=`cargo__Items`.`_ID`)) WHERE `cargo__Items__Subcategory`.`_value` = 'Raw Food' AND Stamina_Increase < 1 GROUP BY `cargo__Items`.`_ID` ORDER BY `Food_Increase` LIMIT 100
Canned Food
Even though most types of canned food can be used in a recipe later on, consuming them is a rather essential part of early game. Some canned food isn't used in recipes: these include Can of Cat Food, Can of Miso, Can of Pears, Chicken Soup and Chicken Ration.
Function: CargoSQLQuery::run Query: SELECT CONCAT("File:", Image, "") AS `Icon`,`_pageName` AS `Name`,`Food_Increase` AS `Food`,`Water_Increase` AS `Water`,`Stamina_Increase` AS `Max Stamina`,`Health_Increase` AS `Health` FROM `cargo__Items__Name`,`cargo__Items__Subcategory` LEFT OUTER JOIN `cargo__Items` ON ((`cargo__Items__Name`.`_rowID`=`cargo__Items`.`_ID`) AND (`cargo__Items__Subcategory`.`_rowID`=`cargo__Items`.`_ID`)) WHERE `cargo__Items__Subcategory`.`_value` = 'Canned Food' GROUP BY `cargo__Items`.`_ID` ORDER BY `Food_Increase` LIMIT 100
Early Game
- A Campfire, a Cooking Grill and a Cooking Pot are essential for cooking. These can be usually found from sinks inside houses.
Food
Function: CargoSQLQuery::run Query: SELECT CONCAT("File:", Image, "") AS `Icon`,`_pageName` AS `Name`,`Food_Increase` AS `Food`,`Water_Increase` AS `Water`,`Stamina_Increase` AS `Max Stamina`,`Health_Increase` AS `Health` FROM `cargo__Items__Name`,`cargo__Items__Subcategory` LEFT OUTER JOIN `cargo__Items` ON ((`cargo__Items__Name`.`_rowID`=`cargo__Items`.`_ID`) AND (`cargo__Items__Subcategory`.`_rowID`=`cargo__Items`.`_ID`)) WHERE `cargo__Items__Subcategory`.`_value` = 'Cooked Food' AND Stamina_Increase = '10' GROUP BY `cargo__Items`.`_ID` ORDER BY `Food_Increase` LIMIT 100
Drinks
| Icon | Name | Water | Stamina Regen | Dysentery | Additional Buff | Buff Effect | Buff Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Murky Water | 10 | +15% | 12% | |||
 |
Water | 20 | +15% | 0 | |||
 |
Coffee | 24 | +20% | 0 | Coffee (Buff) | +5 Cold Resist | 03:00 |
 |
Goldenrod Tea | 24 | +15% | 0 | |||
 |
Red Tea | 24 | +15% | 0 | Efficient Digestion | -15% Water and Food loss | 06:00 |
 |
Yucca Juice | 34 | +15% | 0 |
Mid Game
- Hunt and harvest animals for meat. Obtain a Bone Knife or a Hunting Knife to harvest maximum amount of items (axes yield less).
- Its recommended that you do not eat Moldy Bread, Old Sham Sandwich, or Rotting Flesh as they have a very high chance of Food Poisoning and rather save them for future crafting recipes.
- Save looted seeds to easily establish a farm later on.
- Spend skill points on Living Off The Land, Master Chef, and other related perks for unlocked recipes and farming abilities.
Food
Function: CargoSQLQuery::run Query: SELECT CONCAT("File:", Image, "") AS `Icon`,`_pageName` AS `Name`,`Food_Increase` AS `Food`,`Water_Increase` AS `Water`,`Stamina_Increase` AS `Max Stamina`,`Health_Increase` AS `Health`,`Additional_Buff` AS `Additional Buff`,`Buff_Effect` AS `Buff Effect`,CONCAT("{{Validate time|value=", Buff_Duration, "}}") AS `Buff Duration` FROM `cargo__Items__Name`,`cargo__Items__Subcategory` LEFT OUTER JOIN `cargo__Items` ON ((`cargo__Items__Name`.`_rowID`=`cargo__Items`.`_ID`) AND (`cargo__Items__Subcategory`.`_rowID`=`cargo__Items`.`_ID`)) WHERE `cargo__Items__Subcategory`.`_value` = 'Cooked Food' AND Stamina_Increase = '20' GROUP BY `cargo__Items`.`_ID` ORDER BY `Food_Increase` LIMIT 100
Drinks
| Icon | Name | Water | Stamina Regen | Additional Buff | Buff Effect | Buff Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Beer | 0 | +40% | Buzzed | +300% Brawling Damage +100% Stun Resist |
01:00 |
 |
Blackstrap Coffee | 24 | +25% | Blackstrap Coffee (Buff) | +10 Cold Resist | 06:00 |
 |
Mega Crush | 60 | +15% | Mega Crush! | +50% Run Speed | 06:00 |
 |
Pure Mineral Water | 60 | +15% | Efficient Digestion | -15% Water and Food loss | 06:00 |
 |
Yucca Juice Smoothie | 78 | +15% | Yucca Juice Smoothie (Buff) | +30 Cold Resist | 06:00 |
Late Game
- Most Canned Food can be used in cooking recipes but some cannot. Save them if possible
- Establish a garden near bases to farm many vegetables and other plants needed for cooking recipes.
- Crops need sunlight to grow. Placing Farm Plots indoors will not allow them to grow.
- Advanced recipes give the most amount of food too so favor them over basic foods.
Food
Function: CargoSQLQuery::run Query: SELECT CONCAT("File:", Image, "") AS `Icon`,`_pageName` AS `Name`,`Food_Increase` AS `Food`,`Water_Increase` AS `Water`,`Stamina_Increase` AS `Max Stamina`,`Health_Increase` AS `Health`,`Additional_Buff` AS `Additional Buff`,`Buff_Effect` AS `Buff Effect`,CONCAT("{{Validate time|value=", Buff_Duration, "}}") AS `Buff Duration` FROM `cargo__Items__Name`,`cargo__Items__Subcategory` LEFT OUTER JOIN `cargo__Items` ON ((`cargo__Items__Name`.`_rowID`=`cargo__Items`.`_ID`) AND (`cargo__Items__Subcategory`.`_rowID`=`cargo__Items`.`_ID`)) WHERE `cargo__Items__Subcategory`.`_value` = 'Cooked Food' AND Stamina_Increase = '30' OR Stamina_Increase = '40' GROUP BY `cargo__Items`.`_ID` ORDER BY `Food_Increase` LIMIT 100
Drinks
| Icon | Name | Water | Stamina Regen | Additional Buff | Buff Effect | Buff Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Grandpa's Awesome Sauce | 0 | 0 | Increased Bartering | +20% to bartering | 03:00 |
 |
Grandpa's Fergit'n Elixir | 0 | 0 | Skill Reset | Resets all used skill points | |
 |
Grandpa's Learn'n Elixir | 0 | 0 | Increased Experience | +20% Exp Gain | 06:00 |
 |
Grandpa's Moonshine | 0 | +60% | Grandpa's Moonshine (Buff) | +400% Melee Damage +100% Stun Resist +20 Health/sec |
01:00 |