Hardtack and pilot bread are quite versatile and can be used for a variety of meals or snacks. Try adding peanut butter or almond butter for a savory snack. If you want something with a little more substance, try layering meat and cheese. Feeling inspired yet? Check out the recipe below.

Army Hardtack Recipe
4 cups flour (preferably whole wheat)
4 teaspoons salt
Water (about 2 cups)
Pre-heat oven to 375° F
Makes about 10 pieces
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 traditional texture.

Now that you know what hardtack is and how to make it, you can add it to your list of survival foods which may come in handy one day. This is a food that doesn't go bad for a long, long time, so if you properly store it and save some ingredients so that you'll know how to make it post-collapse, you and your family can count on hardtack as a meal that'll keep you going.

For more on how to make hardtack and pilot bread, check out Survival Common Sense.

Featured Image via YouTube