Mushroom Harvesting: The Optimal Duplicant Ratio

The number of mushrooms needed per dupe depends on various factors, such as the type of mushroom, the cooking method, and the dupe's appetite. For example, a duplicant with a Bottomless Stomach requires 1500 kCal per cycle, while a regular duplicant needs 1000 kCal. Additionally, different mushrooms provide varying calorie amounts; a Fried Mushroom offers 2800 kcals, while a Mushroom Wrap provides 4800 kcals. The cooking method can also affect the calorie yield, with cooked mushrooms providing more calories per serving. Players should also consider the effort required to renew slime, as it is more challenging than renewing dirt, impacting their mushroom supply.

Mealwood vs mushrooms

Mealwood and mushrooms are two of the food sources in the game Oxygen Not Included. When starting the game, it is recommended to begin with mealwood. Mealwood is easier to make and requires less effort than mushrooms. It does not need water to grow, and a dupe needs 1000 kcal a day, with a mealwood plant yielding 100-800 kcal every 3 days. The number of plants per dupe varies between 2 and 8, depending on whether the mealwood is being harvested or being left to drop.

Mushrooms are a good alternative if you have a lot of CO2 and slime available. They are easy to farm and can be grown in a CO2 pit. However, they use up slime, which is also needed for oxygen generation. It takes 10 pots of mushrooms to feed one dupe, and these will use 40kg of slime per cycle.

Some players recommend having a mix of food sources. One player suggests starting with mealwood for the first 30-50 cycles, then moving on to mushrooms, and later to an egg-free ranch. Another player suggests using meal lice at the start of the game, then transitioning to bristle berries and cooking them for gristle berries.

The number of plants per dupe will depend on the player's strategy and the resources available. It is recommended to have a surplus of food to avoid starvation warnings and to have enough food for about 20 dupes. Players should also consider the growth speed of the plants and the experience level of the farmer.

Calorific value of mushrooms

Mushrooms are a type of fungus, often used and served as vegetables in recipes. They are a low-calorie food option, with one cup of raw mushrooms (70g) providing only 15 calories. They are also a good source of dietary fibre, with one cup of sliced raw mushrooms providing 1.47 mg of vitamin C, contributing to the recommended daily intake of 75-90 mg. Mushrooms are also a source of vitamin D, with wild mushrooms and those exposed to UV light being particularly good sources. Vitamin D is important for bone health and may help prevent certain types of cancer.

Mushrooms are also a good source of potassium, with one cup providing around 223 mg, contributing to the recommended daily intake of 2,600-3,400 mg. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, mushrooms contain a small amount of protein, with 2.2 grams per cup, and a minuscule amount of fat, most of which is polyunsaturated. They are also a good source of copper, iron, and B vitamins, which assist in energy production and the release of energy from food.

The nutritional content of mushrooms varies depending on the type and preparation method. For example, six large, raw white mushrooms have 24 calories, while cooking them reduces their calorie content to 20 and increases their fibre content. Cooking mushrooms is generally recommended due to potential taste and toxicity concerns with consuming them raw. White mushrooms, the most cultivated type worldwide, are low in calories but pack plenty of nutrients, including vitamin D2, which can be converted to the active form of vitamin D by the body.

Mushrooms also contain multiple antioxidant compounds, including polyphenols, polysaccharides, ergothioneine, glutathione, selenium, and vitamin C. These antioxidants may contribute to the potential cancer-fighting properties of mushrooms by helping to combat the harmful effects of oxidative stress, which can increase the risk of certain cancers and heart disease. Additionally, the polysaccharides in mushrooms may help protect against diabetes by reducing oxidative stress. Overall, mushrooms are a nutritious and low-calorie food option that can provide various health benefits.

Number of plants per dupe

The number of plants per dupe depends on the type of plant and the dupe's eating habits. For example, a duplicant with a bottomless stomach needs 1500 kCal per cycle, while a normal duplicant needs 1000 kCal per cycle.

If you are using meal lice, you would need 5 plants per duplicant without the bottomless stomach trait, as you can harvest 600 kCal per harvest from a single mealwood plant, and you can harvest once every 3 cycles.

If you are using mealwood plants, the number of plants per dupe varies depending on the harvest skill of the duplicant and whether the food is cooked. With a harvest skill of 800 kCal, you need about 4 plants per dupe. If the food is cooked, you only need 3 plants per dupe. However, some players have suggested that the number is closer to 7.5 plants per dupe, as a mealwood plant yields 100-800 kCal every 3 days, or 400 kCal per harvest on average.

If you are using mushrooms, the number of plants per dupe depends on how the mushrooms are prepared. Fried mushrooms provide 2800 kCal and require 2400 kCal of mushrooms, which means you need about 2.7 plants per dupe. Mushroom wraps provide 4800 kCal and require 2800 kCal of fried mushrooms, which means you need about 1.6 plants per dupe.

It's important to note that these numbers are rough estimates, and the actual number of plants per dupe may vary depending on other factors such as water availability, the dupe's morale, and the player's preferred playstyle. Some players may also choose to supplement their diet with other foods, such as wild muckroot and sleetwheat, which can reduce the number of plants per dupe.

Other food sources

While mushrooms are a good food source for dupes, there are several other options to consider. One popular option is meal lice, which does not require water to grow and can be stored in CO2 to prevent spoilage. Meal lice can be used to make liceloaf, which provides higher-quality food and twice the calories. However, this requires a decent cook.

Another option is mealwood, which can be fried, pickled, or made into mush bars. Some players recommend planting 4.25 to 5 mealwood per dupe, though this may vary depending on your setup and the number of dupes you have. It's important to note that mealwood requires water, so it may not be suitable for early game when water is more scarce.

Bristle berries are another food source to consider. They can be cooked on a grill, and a rough estimate is that 60 well-supplied bristle berries in greenhouses are enough to feed 30 dupes. However, some players suggest offsetting bristle berries with mealwood to conserve dirt, as it takes more effort to produce than water.

If you're looking for a more sustainable food source, you can try ranching shove voles. They lay eggs and provide meat, but they require a well-built enclosure to prevent them from wreaking havoc on your plants. Another option is to farm fish, as breeding will provide more food over time even after feeding stops.

Lastly, don't forget about wild plants like muckroot and sleet wheat, which can be foraged and used to make better food. It's important to manage your food supply and adjust your farming priorities as needed to avoid food spoilage and wastage.

Cooking considerations

When it comes to cooking considerations for mushrooms per dupe, there are several factors to keep in mind. Firstly, it's important to note that the number of mushrooms required will depend on the type of mushroom and the specific needs of your dupes. Some dupes may have higher calorie requirements, such as those with Bottomless Stomachs, which need 1500 kCal per cycle.

In terms of cooking methods, frying mushrooms is a popular option. To fry mushrooms, use an open frying pan with a cooking fat like butter. Heat the mushrooms for a similar amount of time as you would steam them—around 3 to 5 minutes, depending on their size. Steaming mushrooms is also an effective method and can be done whole or in smaller pieces. It's important to cool and drain mushrooms after steaming or frying before packaging and sealing them for freezer storage. Steamed mushrooms tend to last longer than those cooked in fat.

Additionally, consider the shelf life of fresh and dried mushrooms. Fresh mushrooms typically last 7-10 days in refrigeration, while dried mushrooms stored in a cool, dark location can last up to a year or longer. If dried mushrooms are kept in a warmer location, their shelf life will be shorter, around six months.

When planning meals, it's worth noting that cooking mushrooms can increase their calorie content. For example, cooking increases the calorie content of mealwood by 25%. This can impact the number of mushrooms required per dupe, as cooked mushrooms provide more calories per serving.

Lastly, remember to exercise caution when consuming mushrooms. While most mushrooms are edible, it's important to properly identify mushrooms before cooking and consuming them. Some mushrooms may have similar appearances but differ in edibility. Always cook mushrooms thoroughly, and avoid eating raw mushrooms to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Frequently asked questions