The Survival Food of the High Seas: Ship's Biscuit

🥖Ship's biscuits were a condensed and nutritious food that provided sustenance for sailors and soldiers during long journeys.

⛵Sailors and soldiers often relied on ship's biscuits as a substitute for regular bread and incorporated them into their daily rations.

🛡️The making of ship's biscuits became more industrialized over time, with bakeries near ship ports producing thousands of biscuits for each voyage.

🌽Ship's biscuits were made from whole wheat flour and other inexpensive flours, making them more nutritional than modern counterparts. They provided survival food rather than complete nutrition.

👨‍🍳Ship's biscuits were not made in households but were a specialized baking process carried out by bakers. Recipes were not commonly written down, but rather passed on through apprenticeship.

What were ship's biscuits made of?

—Ship's biscuits were made from simple ingredients such as flour, water, and sometimes salt. Inexpensive flours like whole wheat were commonly used.

How were ship's biscuits made?

—Ship's biscuits were made by forming a stiff dough from the ingredients and shaping it into flat biscuit shapes. The dough was baked at a low temperature for a long time to remove all moisture, resulting in hardened biscuits.

How did sailors eat ship's biscuits?

—Sailors would receive a daily ration of ship's biscuits, which they would either eat plain or soak in liquid like wine or grog to soften them. The biscuits were also used as ingredients in various dishes.

What role did ship's biscuits play in history?

—Ship's biscuits were essential for sailors and soldiers on long voyages, providing them with condensed and nutritious sustenance. They also served as a trading commodity with Native Americans.

Are ship's biscuits still edible today?

—Ship's biscuits, when properly stored, can remain edible for long periods of time, as demonstrated by a 10-year-old biscuit that was still edible. However, they are not commonly consumed in modern times.

00:00Ship's biscuit, also known as hard tack, was a condensed and nutritious food used by sailors and soldiers on long voyages in the 18th century.

03:26Ship's biscuits were also a staple food for frontiersmen, explorers, settlers, and even used for trading with Native Americans.

03:43The making of ship's biscuits became more industrialized over time, with bakeries near ship ports producing large quantities.

08:06Ship's biscuits were made from economical flours like whole wheat and were meant for survival, not complete nutrition.

09:34Recipes for ship's biscuits were not commonly written down but passed on through apprenticeship in specialized bakeries.

10:30Ship's biscuits were typically eaten plain or soaked in wine or water to soften them.

11:00A 10-year-old ship's biscuit was found to still be edible, demonstrating its long shelf life.

11:29Ship's biscuits served as essential survival food for sailors and soldiers throughout history.