Meat

Meat is a food resource produced by killing or harvesting critters in the colony and from certain critter processing outputs. It functions as a basic high-calorie ingredient that can be cooked into more complex dishes or fed directly to Duplicants and some critters. Meat appears as an item resource with mass measured in kilograms and caloric energy measured in kilocalories; food mechanics use Calories per kilogram to determine feeding value.

Meat is obtained when critters are butchered or naturally yield meat on death. Different critters yield different fixed amounts of meat per adult individual (baby critters and morphs yield the same amount as adults for meat purposes). The game lists specific meat yields per critter species; for example, some critters yield 1–2 kg while larger critters can yield up to 10 kg. Meat does not spontaneously regenerate and must be produced by breeding, capturing and killing critters, or by processing critter outputs where applicable.

Meat is processed and consumed via cooking stations. Placing meat into an Electric Grill converts it into cooked dishes such as Barbeque, which increases its effective food energy and removes spoilage timers. Cooked meat products provide the primary means for replenishing Duplicant Calories when kitchened. Meat can also be composted or used as an ingredient in other recipes if those recipes are unlocked.

Meat has standard physical properties: its mass is measured in kilograms; temperature affects spoilage and can be managed by storing meat in refrigerated storage to slow decay. Meat items occupy inventory space and behave like other solid resources—subject to tile occupation rules and transport by duplicants and conveyor systems compatible with solid resources.

Practical notes and strategies:

• Store meat in a cooled, insulated Refrigeration or in a chilled Storage Locker to extend shelf life and prevent spoilage.
• Establish a sustainable meat source by breeding critters that reproduce reliably and yield meat when slaughtered; balance breeding with food needs and ecosystem impact.
• Use an Electric Grill to convert raw meat into higher-value cooked meals like Barbeque to maximize Calories per duplicant and reduce stress from poor-quality meals.
• Track individual critter meat yields when planning butcher cycles: larger critters yield more meat but may take longer to raise.
• Consider alternate uses of excess meat (composting or feeding to certain critters) to avoid waste if your cuisine production outpaces consumption.