A Survival food that keeps forever
Survival is based upon primarily food, shelter, and water. Yes, heat (or the lack there of) is an element as well as clothing, but if I had to make a top three list…food, water, and shelter would be my picks. Because food is such an important part of survival, it is critical that the survivalist and prepper have a stockpile of food which will not expire, can be transported easily, and is cheap to produce. Hardtack addresses all of these requirements. What is hardtack? It is a cracker, specifically a hard cracker which lasts for years!
Here is how you make it.
Ingredients:
There are only three ingredients which go into Hardtack. These are water, flour, and salt. So put a few extra containers of these ingredients into your bug out bag for when the crackers run out. Ensure that packets are 1 cup each so that you do not have to guess at the portion size. However, if storage space requires that you put everything into one bag, you can still effectively make the cracker. Of course, you will need to have something to mix everything up in (a bowl) and a flat surface to cook the cracker upon. Your knife will also come in handy for cutting and for creating the perforation holes on the cracker.
At home preparation:
1. Mix 1 ½ cup of white flower with 1 teaspoon of salt
2. Slowly work in cold water (about ½ cup) while stirring until a non-sticky dough is formed.
3. Put the dough onto a pan and roll it to a ½ inch thickness
4. Using your knife make perforations along the cracker
5. Cook at 365 degrees in an oven for an hour turning them over at 30 minutes
6. Cool, Cut, and bag
Preparing Hardtack in the wild
Preparing food in a survival situation is a bit more precarious then in a kitchen. Most of us will not have measuring spoons, cups, and pots and pans to create meals. As such, you will need to get a bit inventive while at the same time keeping things somewhat consistent. Keep in mind that your measurements will be approximations and that you will have to do a bit of trial and error to get the process down depending on your size and your supply. To make Hardtack in the wild:
1. Start by forming a bowl out of your palm. Most people’s “bowl” is about a teaspoon. Add just enough salt to fill the small bowl in your palm.
2. Add the salt to your mixing container
3. Add one scoop (not overly excessive) of flour to your mixing bowl. The typical adult’s hand when made into a C shape is about a cup.
4. Very slowly add water until you have a dough that is not sticky.
5. Add the dough to a flat surface that can be used to cook it. This can be a large flat stone which can be heated, a makeshift cookie sheet, a piece of tin, etc.
6. Make the dough a consistent thickness and then perforate the dough using your knife
7. Place the dough above hot coals (not a fire as it will burn it) and cook the dough. Keep an eye on the edges. When they are light brown, turn the dough over.
8. Allow the dough to cool. If it is mushy, it needs to cook longer.
9. Once it is done, cut it and store it.
Storage
You must keep Hardtack in a dry area for it to last. So long as the cracker is not exposed to moisture and humidity it will last pretty much till the end of time. Do not assume that your crackers are stored properly. Check them regularly for any signs of molding or moisture. If you find any, you will need to store your Hardtack in another area or consider using an air sealing bag system.
Additional notes
The Hardtack is a survival cracker which means that there is little to no flavor in it. Additionally, there is little nutritional value to the cracker. It will keep you alive, but you cannot survive off of the cracker alone. Ensure that your bug out bag has other food and also be prepared for hunting and gathering. Should you wish to add a bit of flavor to your Hardtack cracker, you can use sugar and berries in the mixture. However, note that adding any elements other than flour, salt, and water, will greatly reduce the shelf life of the Hardtack. It is advised that you create the Hardtack with just the basic three elements and then add flavor to the top of the cracker.
When packing your bug out bag, place the Hardtack in a place where it won’t crumble. It is still just a cracker after all.