Hardtack

[csprig9]

Anybody ever made any, there's a million different ways to make it apparently, what is your opinion of the best way and what's the best way to store it, I'm guessing in a freezer bag in a food grade bucket with lid is the best? Thanks for your answers

 

[burt gummer]

U could just vac seal it in a bag and be done, I saw a vid a dude opened a ziplock bag and it had been in his backpack for 2 years and he ate the stuff

 

[Spear Dane]

I have made it. If there are a million ways to make then 999,999 of them are wrong. It's the most basic recipe there is beyond boiling water. Water and flour. Maybe some salt, if one is feeling adventurous that day. If well sealed and kept dry it will last a very long time. You can eat it dry but you better have great faith in your teeth and your dentist. Otherwise it's best used as a filler in other liquidy dishes like a soup. Or your coffee.

 

[csprig9]

I have made it. If there are a million ways to make then 999,999 of them are wrong. It's the most basic recipe there is beyond boiling water. Water and flour. Maybe some salt, if one is feeling adventurous that day. If well sealed and kept dry it will last a very long time. You can eat it dry but you better have great faith in your teeth and your dentist. Otherwise it's best used as a filler in other liquidy dishes like a soup. Or your coffee.

So I'm guessing if I pack it away in freezer bags with some boullion cubes I should be good to go

 

[sloughfoot]

It can't have a lot of nutritional value.

 

[2in1evtime]

It can't have a lot of nutritional value.

Not much nutritional value,but will fill that empty spot in a crunch.

 

[Dentoro]

I made some 10 years ago with my son for a Boy Scout project.  I used water, flower, salt and a bit of molasses.  Mostly because of the scouts but it was a real recipie.   We made a huge batch and the kids were not interested in them.  I packed them four to a zip lock bag. Had the in the cupboard since just to see how it goes.  10 years on still in the bags, no bugs, no mold, brick frick'n hard! I think the key to hard tack keeping is low heat with long bake to get rid of moisture, and keeping from moisture, like jerkey or biltong.  But like previously stated, soften before eating!  I would bet if you want to taste, I think I would go extra salt and dryer oragano would be some flavor without hurting anything but in the end.....it is hardtack.

 

[Bill of Rights]

I recall reading that it used to be made and it was known that it would have bugs in it when you went to eat it, so you softened it in some liquid and skimmed the larvae off the top of whatever it was.

Oh, and here's the obligatory .

Blessings,
Bill

 

[Alamo]

Riffing off of BOR: Hard Tack in its original environment: https://smile.amazon.com/Hardtack-C...489932403&sr=1-1&keywords=hardtack+and+coffee

Free on Kindle right now. Excellent read. As to actual "hard tack"... gotta be something better to tote around nowadays.

 

[EvilKidsMeal]

I've tried making it twice and haven't gotten it to be as hard as I think it should be. The recipe I went off of was 4 cups of flour, 2 cups of water, and 3 tablespoons of salt. Bake 30 minuters per side and let sit a few days. Mine still came out kind of soft in the middle.

 

[Dentoro]

Don't be afraid to put back in the oven. I would say 175 for another hour or two will dry it out nicely. Open up the oven door about 15 minutes and let moisture out, or crumple up a foil ball and prop it open about an inch.

 

[EvilKidsMeal]

Hmm. The recipe I found said 350-375, and half hour each side. I ended up leaving them a little longer but still not hard enough.

Might roll them out just a smidge thinner next time as well.

 

[Sailor]

It lasts a while I would say. About 153 years.

[video=youtube;Ga5JrN9DrVI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga5JrN9DrVI&t=323s[/video]

 

[Timjoebillybob]

It lasts a while I would say. About 153 years.

[video=youtube;Ga5JrN9DrVI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga5JrN9DrVI&t=323s[/video]

I have a set of silverware that looks exactly like that, except without the inlay. I wonder if they are as old.

 

[tribeofham]

I'm surprised this guy is still alive. He has eaten a lot of questionable food. Botulism is very deadly.