Bug Meat is the only type of meat available in Stardew Valley, and is incredibly useful for fishing, as it’s used for making multiple types of bait. Thankfully, Bug Meat is pretty easy to get your hands on in a variety of different ways.
The easiest way to get Bug Meat is by venturing into the Mines or Skull Cavern. Inside these, you’ll encounter a myriad of bugs that drop it when killed, including armored ones if you have the Bug Killer enchantment forged to your weapon.
Here are all of the bugs that drop Bug Meat, and how likely you are to get it from them:
| Bug | Drop chance |
| Bug / Dangerous Bug | 76% |
| Cave Fly / Dangerous Cave Fly | 90% |
| Grub / Dangerous Grub | 60% |
| Mutant Fly | 90% |
| Mutant Grub | 60% |
| Armored Bug | 76% |
| Armored Bug / Dangerous Armored Bug | 76% |
There are three other potential ways to get Bug Meat in Stardew Valley:
- Occasionally appears in the rotating stock at the Traveling Cart for between 100 and 1,000 Gold
- Dorado, Lingcod, and Pike Fish Ponds can produce 20 Bug Meat after the population reaches 9
- 3 Bug Meat can be purchased from Vincent at the Desert Festival for 1 Calico Egg
How to use Bug Meat in Stardew Valley
Bug Meat is a universally hated gift in Stardew Valley and is also not a part of any Bundles. However, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have its uses.
Crafting
As I said, Bug Meat comes in most handy for those who enjoy fishing in Stardew Valley, as it is the main ingredient in multiple different baits:
| Item | Recipe | How to get recipe |
| Bait | 1 Bug Meat | Unlocks at fishing level 2 |
| Wild Bait | 5 Bug Meat 10 Fiber 5 Slime | Reach 4 heart friendship with Linus |
| Magic Bait | 3 Bug Meat 1 Radioactive Ore | Purchase from Mr. Qi for 20 Qi Gems |
It’s also used in two further recipes, one of which can be very useful if you enjoy diving into the Mines or Skull Cavern:
| Item | Recipe | How to get recipe |
| Sturdy Ring | 25 Bug Mea t2 Copper Bars 25 Slime | Unlocks at combat level 1 |
| Bug Steak | 10 Bug Meat | Unlocks at combat level 1 |
Tailoring
When used in the spool of a sewing machine with plain cloth, Bug Meat will produce a pint-striped shirt. When placed in the Spool alongside any dyeable item of clothing, the Bug Meat will turn the item dark pink.
Bug meat can also be placed into the purple dye pot in Emily and Haley’s house.
Quests
There are three different quests which may require Bug Meat:
- Some fish may request 10 Bug Meat as part of their Fish Pond quests
- Willy will request 100 Bug Meat to complete his “Juicy Bugs Wanted!” special order. If completed, this quest rewards 3,000 Gold and the recipe for a Quality Bobber
- The Raccoon may request 20 Bug Meat in any request following his fifth
