Cooking items greyed out. Sims can't cook most or all of their recipes. SOLUTION!

[HiFive]

In case anyone else gets this problem, I just discovered that some cooking items apparently require two empty countertops for a Sim to cook on. Whether both countertops are actually used might be another matter. I haven't checked yet. What matters is that the game wanted me to have two cleared countertops.

Both of my Sims had a bunch, or even all, of the cooking items greyed out for various mealtimes.

Both of my Sims had the ingredients in their inventories and I haven't been playing with mods, so it wasn't a mod issue. The fridge and stove are top-notch and working. I made sure the empty counter and the food-processor counter were clean, but I still had this issue. After repeated attempts to find an answer thru Steam forum searches (very little on the topic in Steam) and general web searches, I finally found someone mentioning that more counter space might be needed. I cleared another countertop, and voila! Both of my Sims can now cook every recipe again.

I had, at some point, placed items on most of the counters. In this particular house (one of the nicer pre-made ones in the game), it is hard to see or interact with certain counters when they are used, so I wanted to keep my Sims from using those counters. The kitchen looks really good the way it is, so I didn't want to change anything. Anyway, this must be when the issue started, and I just didn't notice until later because they don't need to cook very often, since they have a good refridgerator.

[lee_bobbins]

that is really interesting, thank you! Normally I only leave one counter open in the smaller kitchens.

I only had the base game installed for a couple weeks and only two days ago installed a few packs. I would swear EA changed some things since their original release...

Originally, basements came with Ambitions while ladders came with Isle Paradiso. But both of those things were in the base game. And I don't remember little round portal windows being in the base game, or life preservers as wall decor. Other changes too but they slip my mind right now.