Recipes for soft hardtack

[53rd PVI Co.C#]

Does anybody have some soft hardtack recipes.

D.Raab
53rd PVI Co.C#

[JimKindred]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

You do realize it is call hardtack for a reason otherwise it would just be a biscuit.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

Hallo!

How did Civil War soldiers deal with hardtack?

Soaking in coffee. Preparing it with something greasy such as bacon in a skillet pan. Breaking it up into small pieces/bites. Etc.

Curt

[GrumpyDave]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

Does anybody have some soft hardtack recipes.

D.Raab
53rd PVI Co.C#

That would be bread.

[DougCooper]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

Softack are those crumbs in the botton of your haversack... or you can jump start the process as Curt says by beating it to death with a blunt instrument or soaking in liquid for a few hours.

But that ruins its considerable utility as a weapon, building material or body armor.

[Bill]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

Doug,

Go on line and contact G.H. Bent Company at www.hardtackcracker.com and order a box, or two of their hardtack crackers. You will receive a product you can actually eat. Unlike the crackers I've been issued at any number of events! :cry_smile

[DougCooper]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

Was a bit tongue in cheek there.

Yeah, love Bent's crackers. I wish I still had the boxes - we used them at a living history event with the SGLHA and they never recovered from our bayonets and cooking fires :)

One box I ordered a few years ago was actually stolen off my front porch. That person was probably very surprised, or very hungry.

[teufelhund]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

Doug,
The issues with period used hardtack being "hard" came not from the way it was made, but often from poor storage conditions by commissary departments which resulted in the bread hardening before it was issued. While hardtack is dense, properly made and stored hardtack is actually pretty good IMO. I've used the Bents cracker a few times and find them a good source along with them being one of the original suppliers during the war.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

Marc,
That's not my experience at all. I made some hardtack about a month or so ago as a rainy day project with my kids. The stuff is H-A-R-D!

The issue with poor storage had more to do with mold and infestation. Hardtack is hard so it can travel well under rough conditions and survive to be issued. Also, it is very dry to help prevent spoiling (and who wants to transport water unnecessarily!). Personally, I've been dubious of the Bent's product. It can barely survive the drive home in the car without breakage. I can't imagine a manufacturer hanging on to his contract for long if troops in the field are being issued scoops of crumbs.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

Hallo!

An interesting side discussion.. Bent's.

My experience is the same.. I think I just looked at my Bent's hardtack crackers and they broke and crumbled to bits and pieces.

Hardtack being flour and water (sometimes a bit of salt), it is unleavened (no softening leavening agents such as yeast) and a thick cracker. Being essentially just flour when baked, they were subject to attack by larder beetles (Dermestes) which are the "weevils" mentioned in Period accounts. By putting a infested hardtack in hot water, many of the larvae and black beetles float to the top of a cup. Or in theory, heating one would drive them out if heated slowly enough.

Damp hardtack, like bread, grows green and white molds.

Secrets be told, I have had three "larder beetle" infestations over the years. The first brought home in a potpourri from an event at Shakertown. KY. The second in a small box of fish food. The third in dog treats. From there they chewed through cardboard cake and mixes boxes, and paper or cellophane wrapped products like flour or pasta..

They they are a pain to purge.

Anyways, you may not want to ask me to share any of my hardtacks, or maybe use a CW trick and eat them in the dark. ;) :)

Curt
Authenticity can be interesting Mess



Curt

[GrumpyDave]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

Doug,
The issues with period used hardtack being "hard" came not from the way it was made, but often from poor storage conditions by commissary departments which resulted in the bread hardening before it was issued. While hardtack is dense, properly made and stored hardtack is actually pretty good IMO. I've used the Bents cracker a few times and find them a good source along with them being one of the original suppliers during the war.

Please explain how 19th century stowage methods for "Hardtack" kept the crackers soft and, mold/insect free. Historic documentation tells a much different story. Otherwise, you statement is invalid.

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

If some pard has led you to believe there is a "soft" hardtack there is one of two things at play here. The first is he's "a-larking" you (playing a trick on you), or two they are changing the accepted receipe to make it soft in which case it wouldn't be hardtack.

Hardtack is a vicously hard creature that literally can damage your teeth if you get too agressive with it. Trying to bite through it without any skirmish work will evetually bring a dental dilemma. Crushing...soaking...frying is necessary to eat it.

[DougCooper]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

The kids at the schools I teach CW history love "clinking" the hardtack together. Sounds just like two bath tiles :) I make the 1st graders sign a dental waiver in case one of them tries to take a bite ;)

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

Hallo!

Isn't this about the time we hear the campfire stories of the lad having his life saved when a spent ball was deflected off of his hardtack cracker?

:) :)

Just a-funnin,' just a-funnin."

Curt

[Silas]

Re: Recipes for soft hardtack

But, Curt, softtack will absorb the ball rather than merely deflecting it. No stray projectiles with softtack.