Hardtack has been loved and loathed for thousands of years as a staple food to ward off starvation and stretch rations at times when supplies were low and people didn't know where they would get their next meal.

In the recipe below, you can learn how to make this staple food for yourself and begin stocking up for the hard times.

Hardtack is simple, it has three basic ingredients and takes roughly a 1/2 hour of cook time to prepare.
This is one of the most cost effective long term survival foods that you can make.
You can make hardtack almost identical to what sailors, troops, and pioneers have been eating by following this simple recipe:
4-5 cups of flour
2 cups of water
3 tsp. of salt
Mix the flour, water and salt together, and make sure the mixture is fairly dry.
Then roll it out to about 1/2 inch thickness, and shape it into a rectangle. Cut it into 3×3 inch squares, and poke holes in both sides. Place on an un-greased cookie or baking sheet, and cook for 30 minutes per side at 375˚
You’ll want to let it dry and harden for a few days.
When it has roughly the consistency of a brick, it’s fully cured. Then simply store it in an airtight container or bucket.
To prepare for eating, soak it in water or milk for about 15 minutes, and then fry in a buttered skillet.

Before the modern age in which so many people depend on the government and the well-established infrastructure to provide for their every need, people did not call themselves “survivalists.”

They simply followed the common-sense practices of stocking up on food in times of plenty so that they would have food on hand in times of need.

Keep true to this way of life by using the recipe above and stocking up on as much hardtack as you can today. It will keep for years and years, so it is an ideal food storage prep.

If you liked this recipe and would like to learn more, you can read more about hardtack and other survival topics on Survival Life.