Have you ever tried some hardtack?

Yes, it was really hard, like a piece of wood, and not very tasty.

It was nasty! I had a uni class where the (English) prof made some and brought it in for the “bread” unit. And then the next unit was on beer! :D

Yes, I have both tried it and made it. The only real way to eat it is pound it with the handle of your knife (or a hammer in modern parlance) and then let it soak in a tolerable liquid until you can actually chew it. Civil War soldiers tended to soak it in coffee, while Spanish sailors of the time of Columbus tended to soak it in wine. It can also be crumbled into soups and stews, or fried with bacon and eggs or whatever else is on the menu and might soften it.

For those who want to try it, here is a recipe:

Army Hardtack Recipe

Ingredients:

* 4 cups flour (perferably whole wheat)
* 4 teaspoons salt
* Water (about 2 cups)
* Pre-heat oven to 375° F
* Makes about 10 pieces

Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl. Add just enough water (less than two cups) so that the mixture will stick together, producing a dough that won’t stick to hands, rolling pin or pan. Mix the dough by hand. Roll the dough out, shaping it roughly into a rectangle. Cut into the dough into squares about 3×3 inches and ½ inch thick.

After cutting the squares, press a pattern of four rows of four holes into each square, using a nail or other such object. Do not punch through the dough. The appearance you want is similar to that of a modern saltine cracker. Turn each square over and do the same thing to the other side.

Place the squares on an ungreased cookie sheet in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Turn each piece over and bake for another 30 minutes. The crackers should be slightly brown on both sides.

The fresh crackers are easily broken but as they dry, they harden and assume the consistency of fired brick.

@Darwin—-mmm, fired brick sounds tasty—=)

@evelyns_pet_zebra – OTOH, there are no preservatives or artificial anything in it but it will last literally for years, a useful trait if you have no refrigeration or bug-free storage. I suspect flavor was a small part of the experience. Survival was a big part of it.

And then there is Salt Cod, brought to you pretty much by the same circumstances.