SwagVault MMO Blog

FFXI:Food Duration

All food creates effects that last for a specific duration. The duration of the food effect is determined by the quality of the crafted food, and how many items fit in a stack for that food, if any. When a food effect wears off, all bonuses provided from the food are immediately removed. The durations for food can be:

3 Minutes – Snack Food items give effects with a 3 minute duration, for the Normal Quality crafted versions. These Snack Foods all stack to 99.

5 Minutes – The High Quality version of Snack Food which stacks to 99 have effects that last for 5 minutes. All effects from raw food are also 5 minutes in length, including those from raw fish, meat, and vegetables.

30 Minutes – Normal Quality crafted food that stacks to 12 have effects that last for 30 minutes. The majority of the food in the game is of this type.

60 Minutes – High Quality crafted food that stacks to 12 have effects that last for 60 minutes.
3 Hours – All non-stackable crafted Normal Quality food have effects that last for 180 minutes, or 3 hours.
4 Hours – All non-stackable crafted High Quality food have effects that last for 240 minutes, or 4 hours.
A standard approach to using food in a pickup experience party is to keep a stack of 30 minute food to use when the party first starts. If you wish to use a more powerful non-stackable food that lasts for 3 or 4 hours, switch to that after the 30 minute food wears off, if the party looks like it will be going for many more hours.