How do I craft a preserving bin to extend the shelf life of food in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Crafting a preserving bin in ARK: Survival Evolved is an essential step for extending the shelf life of food and other perishable items. The preserving bin slows down the spoilage rate of items placed inside it, making it a crucial tool for managing resources, especially in the early to mid-game stages. Below is a detailed guide on how to craft and use a preserving bin effectively, along with tips and considerations to optimize its use.
To craft a preserving bin, you first need to unlock its engram. The preserving bin engram becomes available at level 16 and costs 12 engram points. Once unlocked, you can craft it at any crafting station, such as your inventory or a smithy. The resource requirements for crafting a preserving bin are 50 wood, 40 fiber, 15 hide, and 20 metal ingots. These materials are relatively easy to gather early in the game, but you may need to prioritize collecting metal, as it requires smelting metal ore in a refining forge.
To gather the necessary resources, start by collecting wood and fiber from trees and bushes using a pickaxe or your hands. Hide can be obtained by killing small to medium-sized creatures like dodos, dilophosaurs, or raptors. Metal ore is found in rocks, particularly in mountainous areas or near riverbeds. Once you have enough metal ore, smelt it in a refining forge to create metal ingots. If you donÔÇÖt already have a refining forge, youÔÇÖll need to craft one using 125 stone, 20 wood, 5 flint, and 20 fiber.
Once you have all the required materials, open your inventory or a smithy and navigate to the preserving bin engram. Craft the preserving bin, and then place it in your base. The preserving bin requires a flat surface, so ensure you have enough space in your base or crafting area. Once placed, you can interact with it to access its inventory.
The preserving bin works by slowing down the spoilage rate of items placed inside it. However, to maximize its effectiveness, you need to add sparkpowder or preserving salt. Sparkpowder is crafted by combining flint and stone in a mortar and pestle, while preserving salt is obtained from desert biomes or by killing certain creatures like the Deathworm. Adding sparkpowder or preserving salt to the preserving binÔÇÖs fuel slot will significantly extend the shelf life of perishable items.
One common mistake players make is forgetting to add sparkpowder or preserving salt to the preserving bin. Without these, the preserving bin will still slow down spoilage, but not as effectively. Another mistake is placing the preserving bin in an exposed or unsafe location. Since the preserving bin is a valuable resource, itÔÇÖs important to protect it from enemy players or wild creatures by placing it inside a secure base.
For solo players, the preserving bin is especially useful for managing food supplies during long exploration trips or when focusing on taming dinosaurs. For tribes, multiple preserving bins can be placed in a central location to store large quantities of food and resources for the entire group. Coordinating with tribe members to gather materials and maintain the preserving bins can save time and effort.
Advanced techniques for using the preserving bin include combining it with other storage solutions like refrigerators or tek troughs. While refrigerators are more efficient, they require electricity and are unlocked at higher levels. Until then, the preserving bin is a reliable alternative. Additionally, you can use tamed dinosaurs like the Phiomia or Dung Beetle to produce fertilizer, which can be used to grow crops for a sustainable food source.
In summary, crafting and using a preserving bin in ARK: Survival Evolved is a straightforward process that significantly improves resource management. By gathering the necessary materials, unlocking the engram, and adding sparkpowder or preserving salt, you can extend the shelf life of food and other perishable items. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, the preserving bin is a valuable tool for surviving and thriving in the gameÔÇÖs challenging environment.
To craft a preserving bin, you first need to unlock its engram. The preserving bin engram becomes available at level 16 and costs 12 engram points. Once unlocked, you can craft it at any crafting station, such as your inventory or a smithy. The resource requirements for crafting a preserving bin are 50 wood, 40 fiber, 15 hide, and 20 metal ingots. These materials are relatively easy to gather early in the game, but you may need to prioritize collecting metal, as it requires smelting metal ore in a refining forge.
To gather the necessary resources, start by collecting wood and fiber from trees and bushes using a pickaxe or your hands. Hide can be obtained by killing small to medium-sized creatures like dodos, dilophosaurs, or raptors. Metal ore is found in rocks, particularly in mountainous areas or near riverbeds. Once you have enough metal ore, smelt it in a refining forge to create metal ingots. If you donÔÇÖt already have a refining forge, youÔÇÖll need to craft one using 125 stone, 20 wood, 5 flint, and 20 fiber.
Once you have all the required materials, open your inventory or a smithy and navigate to the preserving bin engram. Craft the preserving bin, and then place it in your base. The preserving bin requires a flat surface, so ensure you have enough space in your base or crafting area. Once placed, you can interact with it to access its inventory.
The preserving bin works by slowing down the spoilage rate of items placed inside it. However, to maximize its effectiveness, you need to add sparkpowder or preserving salt. Sparkpowder is crafted by combining flint and stone in a mortar and pestle, while preserving salt is obtained from desert biomes or by killing certain creatures like the Deathworm. Adding sparkpowder or preserving salt to the preserving binÔÇÖs fuel slot will significantly extend the shelf life of perishable items.
One common mistake players make is forgetting to add sparkpowder or preserving salt to the preserving bin. Without these, the preserving bin will still slow down spoilage, but not as effectively. Another mistake is placing the preserving bin in an exposed or unsafe location. Since the preserving bin is a valuable resource, itÔÇÖs important to protect it from enemy players or wild creatures by placing it inside a secure base.
For solo players, the preserving bin is especially useful for managing food supplies during long exploration trips or when focusing on taming dinosaurs. For tribes, multiple preserving bins can be placed in a central location to store large quantities of food and resources for the entire group. Coordinating with tribe members to gather materials and maintain the preserving bins can save time and effort.
Advanced techniques for using the preserving bin include combining it with other storage solutions like refrigerators or tek troughs. While refrigerators are more efficient, they require electricity and are unlocked at higher levels. Until then, the preserving bin is a reliable alternative. Additionally, you can use tamed dinosaurs like the Phiomia or Dung Beetle to produce fertilizer, which can be used to grow crops for a sustainable food source.
In summary, crafting and using a preserving bin in ARK: Survival Evolved is a straightforward process that significantly improves resource management. By gathering the necessary materials, unlocking the engram, and adding sparkpowder or preserving salt, you can extend the shelf life of food and other perishable items. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, the preserving bin is a valuable tool for surviving and thriving in the gameÔÇÖs challenging environment.