How do I craft a refrigerator for preserving food in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Crafting a refrigerator in ARK: Survival Evolved is a crucial step in preserving food and extending its spoilage time, which is essential for both solo players and tribes. The refrigerator is a mid-to-late-game item that requires a significant amount of resources and preparation. Below is a detailed guide on how to craft and use a refrigerator effectively.
To craft a refrigerator, you first need to unlock its engram. The refrigerator engram becomes available at level 40 and costs 21 engram points. Once unlocked, you will need to gather the necessary resources to craft it. The refrigerator requires 75 metal ingots, 25 cementing paste, 15 crystal, and 50 fiber. These resources are not easy to come by, especially in the early game, so you will need to plan accordingly.
Metal ingots are crafted by smelting metal ore in a forge. Metal ore can be found in large quantities in mountainous regions or near riverbeds. You will need a pickaxe or a metal-harvesting dinosaur like an Ankylosaurus to gather metal ore efficiently. Cementing paste is crafted using chitin or keratin and stone in a mortar and pestle or by using a Chem Bench. Chitin and keratin can be obtained by killing insects, trilobites, or certain dinosaurs like the Triceratops. Crystal is typically found in caves or on mountain peaks, and fiber can be gathered from bushes using your hands or a sickle.
Once you have gathered all the required resources, you can craft the refrigerator at a Smithy or Fabricator. The Smithy is available earlier in the game, while the Fabricator is a more advanced crafting station that requires electricity to operate. If you are using a Smithy, make sure it has enough inventory space to hold all the materials. If you are using a Fabricator, ensure that you have a reliable power source, such as a generator, to keep it running.
After crafting the refrigerator, you will need to place it in your base. The refrigerator requires electricity to function, so you will need to connect it to a generator using electrical cables. Generators require gasoline to run, which is crafted in a Refining Forge using oil and hide. Oil can be harvested from oil nodes in the ocean or by killing certain creatures like Basilosaurus. Hide is obtained by killing animals and harvesting their bodies.
Once the refrigerator is powered, you can place food items inside to significantly extend their spoilage time. For example, raw meat that normally spoils in 10 minutes will last for several hours in a refrigerator. This is especially useful for storing large quantities of food for taming dinosaurs or for long-term survival. The refrigerator also works well in conjunction with preserving bins, which use sparkpowder to preserve food but are less efficient than refrigerators.
When using a refrigerator, it is important to manage your power supply carefully. Generators consume gasoline over time, so you will need to regularly check and refill them to keep your refrigerator running. If you are playing in a tribe, consider assigning a member to manage the generator and ensure it is always fueled. Solo players should keep a stockpile of gasoline and oil to avoid running out of power unexpectedly.
One common mistake is placing the refrigerator too far from the generator, which can cause power issues. Make sure the refrigerator is within the range of the electrical cables connected to the generator. Another mistake is not securing your base properly. Refrigerators are valuable items, and in PvP servers, they can be a target for raiders. Ensure your base is well-defended with walls, turrets, and tamed dinosaurs to protect your resources.
Advanced players can optimize their refrigerator setup by using multiple refrigerators and generators to create a centralized food storage area. This is especially useful for large tribes with high food consumption. You can also use industrial cookers, which require refrigerators to store ingredients, to mass-produce food items like kibble or custom recipes.
In summary, crafting a refrigerator in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource gathering, and base management. By following the steps outlined above, you can create an efficient food preservation system that will greatly enhance your survival and taming efforts. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, the refrigerator is an invaluable tool for long-term success in the game.
To craft a refrigerator, you first need to unlock its engram. The refrigerator engram becomes available at level 40 and costs 21 engram points. Once unlocked, you will need to gather the necessary resources to craft it. The refrigerator requires 75 metal ingots, 25 cementing paste, 15 crystal, and 50 fiber. These resources are not easy to come by, especially in the early game, so you will need to plan accordingly.
Metal ingots are crafted by smelting metal ore in a forge. Metal ore can be found in large quantities in mountainous regions or near riverbeds. You will need a pickaxe or a metal-harvesting dinosaur like an Ankylosaurus to gather metal ore efficiently. Cementing paste is crafted using chitin or keratin and stone in a mortar and pestle or by using a Chem Bench. Chitin and keratin can be obtained by killing insects, trilobites, or certain dinosaurs like the Triceratops. Crystal is typically found in caves or on mountain peaks, and fiber can be gathered from bushes using your hands or a sickle.
Once you have gathered all the required resources, you can craft the refrigerator at a Smithy or Fabricator. The Smithy is available earlier in the game, while the Fabricator is a more advanced crafting station that requires electricity to operate. If you are using a Smithy, make sure it has enough inventory space to hold all the materials. If you are using a Fabricator, ensure that you have a reliable power source, such as a generator, to keep it running.
After crafting the refrigerator, you will need to place it in your base. The refrigerator requires electricity to function, so you will need to connect it to a generator using electrical cables. Generators require gasoline to run, which is crafted in a Refining Forge using oil and hide. Oil can be harvested from oil nodes in the ocean or by killing certain creatures like Basilosaurus. Hide is obtained by killing animals and harvesting their bodies.
Once the refrigerator is powered, you can place food items inside to significantly extend their spoilage time. For example, raw meat that normally spoils in 10 minutes will last for several hours in a refrigerator. This is especially useful for storing large quantities of food for taming dinosaurs or for long-term survival. The refrigerator also works well in conjunction with preserving bins, which use sparkpowder to preserve food but are less efficient than refrigerators.
When using a refrigerator, it is important to manage your power supply carefully. Generators consume gasoline over time, so you will need to regularly check and refill them to keep your refrigerator running. If you are playing in a tribe, consider assigning a member to manage the generator and ensure it is always fueled. Solo players should keep a stockpile of gasoline and oil to avoid running out of power unexpectedly.
One common mistake is placing the refrigerator too far from the generator, which can cause power issues. Make sure the refrigerator is within the range of the electrical cables connected to the generator. Another mistake is not securing your base properly. Refrigerators are valuable items, and in PvP servers, they can be a target for raiders. Ensure your base is well-defended with walls, turrets, and tamed dinosaurs to protect your resources.
Advanced players can optimize their refrigerator setup by using multiple refrigerators and generators to create a centralized food storage area. This is especially useful for large tribes with high food consumption. You can also use industrial cookers, which require refrigerators to store ingredients, to mass-produce food items like kibble or custom recipes.
In summary, crafting a refrigerator in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource gathering, and base management. By following the steps outlined above, you can create an efficient food preservation system that will greatly enhance your survival and taming efforts. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, the refrigerator is an invaluable tool for long-term success in the game.