Meat Stir-Fry is a solid 5-star tactical consumable in Arknights: Endfield instantly restores a good chunk of operator HP (around 22% max HP + a flat amount like 1304) and can dispel certain Arts Inflictions or reactions. It’s especially useful in tough exploration runs, boss fights, or when you’re low on healing resources during events like Supply: Exploration Day (Day 3 task often requires submitting or using it).
You can cook Meat Stir-Fry yourself for free (with farming) or buy it directly from vendors—here’s the full breakdown on how to obtain it, ingredients, costs, pros/cons of each method, and tips for efficient stocking in Version 1.1.
How to Unlock the Meat Stir-Fry Recipe (Formula)
The Formula: Meat Stir-Fry unlocks automatically by collecting enough of the key ingredient:
- Unlock Requirement: Gather enough Tartpepper (exact number varies by player reports, often 20–50+ pieces from gathering).
- Once you hit the threshold, the crafting manual/formula unlocks in your inventory or crafting menu.
- Tartpepper is a common red pepper-like plant found in open-world areas, especially cliffs and farms near the Eco Farm tutorial zone (opposite the science park or during early quests). Farm them in clusters for quick unlocks.
After unlocking, craft at any Crafting Station or Manual Handcraft menu.
Ingredients & Crafting Cost for Meat Stir-Fry
Fine Food & Meds Recipe (standard version):
- 8x Tartpepper
- 4x Fillet
Produces 1x Meat Stir-Fry (instant craft, no time required in most stations).
Where to Farm Ingredients:
- Tartpepper: Abundant in early zones—cliffs near Eco Farm, open fields, or during exploration. Use gathering tools or auto-collect.
- Fillet: Dropped from animal enemies (hunt beasts/wildlife) or bought cheaply from vendors/NPCs in hubs.
Crafting is free once unlocked—no T-Creds or other currency needed beyond materials.
Buying Meat Stir-Fry (Vendor Method)
You can skip farming and buy finished Meat Stir-Fry directly during events or from shops:
- Main Source: F&M Vendor (food & meds shop in hubs or during the Supply: Exploration Day event).
- Often available on Day 3 of the event for submission or purchase.
- Cost: Usually T-Creds or event currency (affordable, around event shop prices).
- Other Vendors: Check general supply shops or NPCs in Wooling City/farm areas—some restock daily.
- Event Tip: In Supply: Exploration Day, select the F&M category to buy the Day 3 item (Meat Stir-Fry) directly if you need it for tasks.
Buying is faster if you’re short on time or materials but costs currency—great for one-off event needs.
Cooking vs. Buying: Which Is Better?
| Method | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooking | Free (farm materials), unlimited once unlocked, scalable (craft as many as you want), saves T-Creds long-term | Requires farming Tartpepper/Fillet (time investment early); need to unlock formula first | Long-term players, resource farmers, stockpiling for endgame/exploration |
| Buying | Instant (no farming), quick for event deadlines, no unlock grind | Costs T-Creds/event currency, limited stock (daily/event-based), not scalable for bulk | New players, event rushes (e.g., Day 3 Supply task), when low on time/materials |
Recommendation:
- Early Game/Event Focus: Buy from F&M vendors if available—saves time during limited events.
- Mid-to-Late Game → Unlock and cook yourself—farming Tartpepper becomes easy with exploration, and Fillet drops are common.
- Max Efficiency → Unlock formula ASAP (farm Tartpepper aggressively), then craft in bulk while buying extras for urgent needs.
Meat Stir-Fry is a reliable HP restore tactical—pair it with other consumables like Ginseng Meat Stew (for ATK buffs) for operator sustain in tough content.
Got your formula unlocked yet? How many do you stockpile for runs? Share your farming spots or event tips in the comments, administrators—happy cooking on Talos-II!
