Thruout hystory bread has been a vital staple of life.Archeological evidence sugest that pre-neolitic cultures cooked a very simple flat bread on hot stones. Hardtack is one of the first survival foods used by sailors.

Hardtack was also called the ship’s bisket, sea bisket or ship’s bread. This bread was not made to be enjoyed, it was made out of necessity. Ship’s captains faced a continuous challenge having enough food on board to feed a large crew for a long journey. Food spoilage was really their greatest concern so the hardtack is really born out of necessity, it’s a means of food preservation. If it was prepared properly and stored properly it would last for a year or more. In addition, the bisket form helped in portability and dividing the rations to the crew.

Let’s find out how to make hardtack the right way as they were made centuries ago.

First of all pre-heat your oven to 300-350°F. The ingredient for these biskets are very simple.

Whole wheat flour
Salt
Water

For 8(4oz) biskets you’re going to need 2 pounds of flour, salt (1-2 spoons) and water to obtain a stiff dough. Mix well all the ingredients. Break the dough into 8 pcs of approximately 4oz a piece. Form the biskets. Arrange the biskets into your tray. Before you put them into the oven prick them . They are going to bake for 2-3 hours. You want to watch them so they don’t burn. When they are baked pull them out. If you want your hardtack to last even longer then you need to eliminate as much water as possible. In the old times these biskets were baked twice. So, in order to eliminate more water bake them again the next day at a lower temperature. This way their shelf life will increase significantly.

I found this video that explains very well the process of making hardtack.

This video explains how to consume your hardtack after 3-4 years when it is a real challenge to eat it.

Stay safe,

James

Would you like to know how the first settlers preserved their food?

Then you really need this amazing book. It is called The Lost Ways and it contains all the knowledge of our forefathers.

Here’s just a glimpse of what you’ll find in The Lost Ways:

From Ruff Simons, an old west history expert and former deputy, you’ll learn the techniques and methods used by the wise sheriffs from the frontiers to defend an entire village despite being outnumbered and outgunned by gangs of robbers and bandits, and how you can use their wisdom to defend your home against looters when you’ll be surrounded.

Native American ERIK BAINBRIDGE – who took part in the reconstruction of the native village of Kule Loklo in California, will show you how Native Americans build the subterranean roundhouse, an underground house that today will serve you as a storm shelter, a perfectly camouflaged hideout, or a bunker. It can easily shelter three to four families, so how will you feel if, when all hell breaks loose, you’ll be able to call all your loved ones and offer them guidance and shelter? Besides that, the subterranean roundhouse makes an awesome root cellar where you can keep all your food and water reserves year-round.

From Shannon Azares you’ll learn how sailors from the XVII century preserved water in their ships for months on end, even years and how you can use this method to preserve clean water for your family cost-free.

Mike Searson – who is a Firearm and Old West history expert – will show you what to do when there is no more ammo to be had, how people who wandered the West managed to hunt eight deer with six bullets, and why their supply of ammo never ran out. Remember the panic buying in the first half of 2013? That was nothing compared to what’s going to precede the collapse.

From Susan Morrow, an ex-science teacher and chemist, you’ll master “The Art of Poultice.” She says, “If you really explore the ingredients from which our forefathers made poultices, you’ll be totally surprised by the similarities with modern medicines.” Well…how would you feel in a crisis to be the only one from the group knowledgeable about this lost skill? When there are no more antibiotics, people will turn to you to save their ill children’s lives.

And believe it or not, this is not all…

Table Of Contents:
Making Your Own Beverages: Beer to Stronger Stuff
Ginger Beer: Making Soda the Old Fashioned Way
How North American Indians and Early Pioneers Made Pemmican
Spycraft: Military Correspondence During The 1700’s to 1900’s
Wild West Guns for SHTF and a Guide to Rolling Your Own Ammo
How Our Forefathers Built Their Sawmills, Grain Mills,and Stamping Mills
How Our Ancestors Made Herbal Poultice to Heal Their Wounds
What Our Ancestors Were Foraging For? or How to Wildcraft Your Table
How Our Ancestors Navigated Without Using a GPS System
How Our Forefathers Made Knives
How Our Forefathers Made Snow shoes for Survival
How North California Native Americans Built Their Semi-subterranean Roundhouses
Our Ancestors’Guide to Root Cellars
Good Old Fashioned Cooking on an Open Flame
Learning from Our Ancestors How to Preserve Water
Learning from Our Ancestors How to Take Care of Our Hygiene When There Isn’t Anything to Buy
How and Why I Prefer to Make Soap with Modern Ingredients
Temporarily Installing a Wood-Burning Stove during Emergencies
Making Traditional and Survival Bark Bread…….
Trapping in Winter for Beaver and Muskrat Just like Our Forefathers Did
How to Make a Smokehouse and Smoke Fish
Survival Lessons From The Donner Party