Feast or Famine: Uncover the Optimal Food Consumption for Duplicants in Oxygen Not Included

In the intricate world of Oxygen Not Included, food plays a crucial role in the survival and prosperity of your colony. Managing your food supply effectively is essential for ensuring the well-being of your Duplicants and the long-term success of your colony.

Understanding Food Consumption

Every Duplicant has a daily food requirement that varies based on their traits, profession, and activity level. The base food consumption for a standard Duplicant is 1000 kcal per cycle. Factors such as starvation, stress, and heavy workloads can increase this requirement.

Types of Food

Oxygen Not Included offers a wide variety of food sources, each with its own nutritional value and production requirements.

• Natural Food: Found in the environment, such as Algae, Mealwood, and Grubfruit.
• Farmed Food: Grown in farms, such as Wheat, Rice, and Pincha Pepper.
• Processed Food: Created by cooking or refining raw ingredients, such as Bread, Mush Bars, and Pemmican.

Food Storage

Proper food storage is crucial to prevent spoilage and ensure a consistent supply. Oxygen Not Included provides several storage options:

• Refrigerators: Keep food fresh for longer periods.
• Freezers: Preserve food indefinitely.
• Dispensers: Automated storage units that provide quick access to food.

Food Production

Sustaining a reliable food supply requires efficient food production methods.

• Farming: Growing crops in farms is a primary source of food.
• Ranching: Raising animals such as Dreckos and Pufts provides meat and other products.
• Cooking: Processing raw ingredients into more nutritious and varied meals.

Food Rationing

During periods of scarcity, it may be necessary to ration food to ensure fair distribution. Oxygen Not Included allows you to set food priorities for each Duplicant.

Monitoring Food Supply

Keeping track of your food supply is essential for proactive management.

• Food Reports: Generate reports to monitor food consumption, storage, and production.
• Sensors: Use sensors to track food levels in storage and trigger alerts when supplies are low.
• Visual Inspection: Regularly check your food storage areas to identify potential shortages.

Tips for Optimal Food Management

• Maximize Farming: Optimize crop yields by using high-quality soil, proper lighting, and efficient irrigation systems.
• Diversify Food Sources: Rely on multiple food sources to reduce the risk of shortages.
• Cook Food: Cooking raw ingredients improves their nutritional value and increases storage life.
• Use Automation: Automate food production and storage tasks to free up Duplicant time.
• Monitor Food Consumption: Track food consumption patterns to identify potential waste or overconsumption.

Recommendations: Feeding Your Colony to Success

Effective food management is a cornerstone of a thriving Oxygen Not Included colony. By understanding food consumption, utilizing various food sources, implementing proper storage and production methods, and monitoring your supply, you can ensure the nutritional well-being of your Duplicants and secure the long-term prosperity of your settlement.

What You Need to Learn

Q: How do I increase food production quickly?
A: Focus on farming high-yield crops like Mealwood and Wheat. Use fertilizers and irrigation to optimize growth.

Q: What is the best food to feed Duplicants?
A: Pemmican provides the highest nutritional value and longest storage life. However, it requires significant resources to produce.

Q: How do I prevent food spoilage?
A: Store food in refrigerators or freezers. Use insulated tiles to maintain optimal temperatures.

Q: What should I do if I run out of food?
A: Ration food carefully, prioritize feeding essential workers, and explore alternative food sources like Grubfruit or Wild Plants.

Q: How do I calculate the food needs of my colony?
A: Multiply the base food consumption (1000 kcal) by the number of Duplicants and adjust for factors like traits and activity levels.