Hardtack
Preserved hardtack from the U.S. Civil War, Pensacola Museum of History, Florida | |
| Alternative names | ANZAC wafers, brewis, cabin bread, dog biscuit, molar breakers, pilot bread, sea biscuit, sea bread, sheet iron, ship's bisket, shipbiscuit, tooth dullers, worm castles |
|---|---|
| Type | Cracker (American English) or biscuit (British English) |
| Main ingredients | Flour, water |
Hardtack (or hard tack) is a type of dense cracker made from flour, water, and sometimes salt. Hardtack is very inexpensive and long-lasting if kept dry, allowing it to be used for sustenance in the absence of perishable foods. It is commonly used during long sea voyages, land migrations, and military campaigns. Along with salt pork and corned beef, hardtack was a standard ration for many militaries and navies from the 17th to the early 20th centuries.