Hardtack is a hard cracker made out of wheat, salt, and water. When good food storage was scarce several centuries ago, the more lasting food was, the better. Despite the fact that it dates back to the Egyptian Pharaohs, it is best recognized for its role in the Civil War. Hardtack was most commonly consumed by sailors and soldiers since the hard biscuit-like food was inexpensive to prepare, convenient to transport, and lasted in practically any environment.
During times of war or other long sea voyages, sailors, like soldiers, were given hardtack as part of their daily rations. While the sailors did not enjoy the monotony of these crackers, others believed that hardtack could heal seasickness and that it did, in fact, provide the sailors with the calories and carbs they required to accomplish their duties and survive on the open seas.
Hardtack is a grain-based food that is high in calories to help your body create energy during periods of high exertion. While not as nutritious, think of Hardtack as our forefathers’ MRE (Meal Ready to Eat), the original kind of survival food.
Peeping Into Some History Of Hardtack
Hardtack is most remembered for being a staple of soldiers’ daily meals during the Civil War. It was the principal source of nutrition for Union troops, along with salted pork. Due to flour shortages in the south, Confederate soldiers ate it less regularly, but it was still a key source of nutrition for Civil War soldiers. In reality, many of the early Civil War rations containing hardtack were remnants from the Mexican-American War, which had occurred over 15 years before!
Many people are unaware that hardtack has been around since the 1860s. Egyptian seamen referred to it as dhourra cake, Roman legions referred to it as buccellum, and King Richard I’s crusaders referred to it as Muslin bisket. The first widespread manufacture of hardtack occurred in the 1660s, with the prepared biscuits being distributed to Royal Navy men.
How To Make Hardtack (The Survival Bread) In Easy Steps.
Hardtack is a straightforward recipe that just calls for flour, water, and salt.
It’s also a low-cost approach to making long-term survival or camping gear. Making hardtack costs pennies compared to spending a fortune on MREs, freeze-dried camping food, and other similar items.
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