Putting meals into the treasure chest.

[Alexandria_]

I read on a dynasty thread that ambrosia was kept in the chest, and was taken out when needed. I was wondering if the meal quality decreases over time if it's put inside one of the treasure chests?

[Hosfac]

It doesn't seem to.  I've had several plates of ambrosia in a chest for a bit over a week game time, and it's just as good as it was when it went in.  It's like time completely stops for anything put inside it (paintings, photographs and nectar won't increase in value if they're inside a chest).  The up-side is that this works well for ambrosia in a dynasty, since sims will not go and interact with a chest unless they're told to, so you don't have to worry about a non-immortal grabbing some when you're not looking. 

The down side is that it would not work well as a regular refrigerator, for the exact same reason.  Also, you can't cook food at all without a fridge, even if you have all the required ingredients in your inventory.

[Alexandria_]

Thanks for that.
That sounds like it'll be really helpful in the immortal dynasty challenge.

[Pam]

Also, you can't cook food at all without a fridge, even if you have all the required ingredients in your inventory.

Really?  Any idea why not?  I've never tested that, so now I'm curious.

Edit:  I just tested it.  Can't cook without a refrigerator.  For some reason, that surprises me.

[Alexandria_]

@Pam
I think it's because you need to actually click fridge to select 'prepare meal'. Even if the Sim has the ingredients in their inventory, they will still go to the fridge seemingly to get out the ingredients before they cook it.

[Pam]

@Pam
I think it's because you need to actually click fridge to select 'prepare meal'. Even if the Sim has the ingredients in their inventory, they will still go to the fridge seemingly to get out the ingredients before they cook it.

You can also click the stove to cook a meal, so that's why I thought there might be something to it.

[Naga]

Maybe sims leave their chopping board inside the fridge?

[Teresa]

Even when you click the stove to prepare meal though, the animations take them to the fridge to get the food to start the process.  If they have everything in their inventory they also go to the fridge first. 

[Hosfac]

Yeah, it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to me either.

[Lilygirl]

Back on topic, my Dynasty founder spouse, Lolly Racket, made about 10 servings of Ambrosia before she died. I knew I wouldn't have new Ambrosia until my third generation learned how. I put the Ambrosia into a chest and there it's been ever since. It's been about 10 weeks and the quality is still as good as new. It's also perfectly safe because as Hosfac said, Sims, alive or as ghosts, don't interact with chests without prompting. I wasn't sure it was going to work but I had to try it and it's been a perfect solution!

[Leto85]

Yeah, it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to me either.

Well, if you cook at home, you won't take all the ingredients out of your pocket right, but out of the fridge? So why should that be different for sims? It makes total sence to me.

'Hunny, I will make some fried herring with whipped cream and pickes for our breakfast!'
'You can't do that my dear, I've just put your shorts in the washing-machine.'
'Ow... no problem hun. I also find some dried chicken with honey in my sweater pocket.'

[Alexandria_]

Oh Leto, you're a funny one
But I know what you're saying. The only weird thing is that they take the chopping board out of the fridge every time.

Anyway, I've started doing this in my dynasty too - it's a great idea. Kudos to whoever thought of it!