Subnautica is a fascinating survival game, taking place on an alien world, and based almost entirely underwater. Players will have to balance the usual survival mechanics with the dangers of the deep as they unravel the world's hidden plot.
And indeed, one such mechanic is finding food to fend off starvation, While the alien oceans of planet 4546b are teeming with plenty of fish and plants to eat, players will still have to contend with maintaining their food supplies. Fish can rot and plants can decay, so here are seven ways to deal with expiring food.
Eat It
One of the most abundant and earliest forms of food players will come across is the world's many fish. From Peepers, Bladderfish, Reginalds, and more, there are tons of tiny creatures to catch and cook. But once these fish are cooked, only then do they start to rot. Indeed, while kept uncooked in players' inventories, the fish are still alive and fresh and can be eaten raw at any time.
For those at the brink of starvation or simply on the go, this can be extremely useful. Almost every biome has plenty of fish to catch and immediately eat. But be warned, as while it will replenish calorie intake, it'll also decrease the water intake. So, be sure to balance starvation with hydration.
Salt It
But just as these fish can be eaten live and raw, so to can they be cooked and eaten. To simply cook a fish -- done at any functioning Fabricator -- will replenish both food and water intake, which can be useful for those avoiding dehydration. But likewise, when stored in the inventory, cooked fish doesn't last long before rotting and becoming inedible.
However, should players add salt to the cooking process, the fish will then be preserved. And while this won't completely stop the process of decay, it will greatly slow it down, so players can go longer without having to manage meal planning. The only downside is that eating salted fish still has a slight penalty to hydration.
Find It
Scattered around the map, and especially around ship wreckages, are containers. These small boxes contain a variety of resources, from Medkits, Flares, Batteries, and more. But specifically enough, they also hold, on occasion, Nutrient Bars. These cubical, granola-esque mush bars never expire, don't have any penalty to hydration, and provide some of the greatest calorie intakes in-game.
They're an extremely valuable find, but sadly, they also come in limited numbers. They're only found in these few containers, and cannot be crafted by hand or machine. And once a container has been opened, it never respawns any item. So best stock up on these nonperishables for a long journey.
Fabricate It
Through the power of science, players can create elaborate bases, buildings, and machines, all from a small, handheld device. One such machine this tiny Habitat Builder can easily. craft is a vending machine, only taking two chunks of titanium and a piece of glass to build. Whether placed in a base or the Cyclops, this machine can provide a variety of unlimited, free Snacks.
These Snacks are yet another food that never decays, and what little resources are needed to obtain them make them sound so tempting. But they also provide very little nutritional value and take yet another toll on survivors' hydration. So, are they worth it in the long run? Perhaps, if one finds themselves in a dire pinch, or in want some luxuries while stranded.
Gel It
There is, however, a natural, non-decaying food that exists on planet 4546b: Gel Sacks. These black-and-purple spheres are scattered about the deepest biomes of the world. And perfectly, for any hungry players doing some exploring, they can act as a moderate food source. Unlike most other edible plants in the game, it doesn't decay when harvested.
Like all other plants, though, it offers only benefits to players, giving back a decent amount of both food and water. It doesn't offer as much compared to other food sources, but it can save a life on the brink of starvation or dehydration. However, given the general rarity of these sacks, and their more pertinent use in advanced fabrication, it'll come down to balancing between food and crafting.
Grow It
Speaking of plants, though, there's a variety of flora both in the water and on dry land. They provide some of the biggest boosts to refueling food and water, outside of nutrient blocks and bottles. But once plucked, they decay extremely fast, losing their benefits until they're completely rotten.
However, there is one way to circumvent this rapid decay: growing food. Or rather, once players build a Cyclops submarine, they can place a grow base inside, and use it to have a mobile greenhouse. Players can plant any seed or fruit well before it decays, and then have an endless, fresh food source on-the-go.
(Below Zero) Store It
However, there's yet another method to dealing with decay, one that was added in the sequel, Below Zero. This method is the refrigerator, a machine that was added to the many new features of the game. It can be fabricated with the base builder, and its blueprints can be acquired at the Phi Robotics Base.
Like the vending machine, it takes only two chunks of titanium and a piece of glass to make. And all food inside it, from plants to cooked fish and more, will be prevented from rotting. The only downside is that - given the smaller size of the Sea Truck to the Cyclops - it cannot be added to any vehicle for on-the-go emergencies. Still, for those looking at stocking up in the long term, it's yet another extremely useful item, to have in the arsenal for fighting food decay.