16 Civil War Foods You Can Still Make Today That Are Perfect for Preppers
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Food during the Civil War was often scarce, forcing people to get by with basic, resourceful meals. Be it rationing, lack of access to ingredients, or the need to stretch what they had, foods from this era were practical, cost-effective, and often made of staple ingredients.
According to the USDA, U.S. consumers spent an average of 11.2 percent of their income on food in 2023, and inflation continues to drive grocery prices up. As people look for ways to save money and prepare for emergencies, the ingenuity behind Civil War-era meals offers valuable lessons in frugality and self-sufficiency.
Read on for a list of affordable, hearty meals from the Civil War era that you can still make today.
Pickled Vegetables
Pickling was one way people preserved vegetables during the Civil War era. This allowed them to keep food longer without refrigeration. Common vegetables such as cucumbers, onions, and beets were pickled, and eggs were used for a protein boost.
The acidity of vinegar used in the pickling process helped preserve the food and keep it safe over time. Pickled vegetables remain valuable to a prepper’s pantry, as they’re simple to make and store. Pickling also offers a method for preserving fresh produce and is good during emergencies or long storage.
Hardtack
Probably the most iconic food from the Civil War era, hardtack was little more than a dry cracker baked with few ingredients: flour, water, and salt. Hardtack was nearly impossible to consume but durable and would survive several years when kept dry.
Soldiers would often make it palatable by softening it in soup or stew. It was a good, portable food for the soldiers on long marches and in the field. It is a non-perishable food that serves well as an emergency ration.
Vinegar Pie
Whenever fresh fruits were scarce, vinegar pie was an ingenious creation. It captured the spirit of tart fruit pies using basic ingredients such as vinegar, sugar, and flour. The vinegar was the main flavor component in this dessert, lending to the sour and tangy taste that made up for the absence of fresh produce.
Despite its strange ingredients, vinegar pie was often considered a sweet indulgence during the Civil War, especially when other ingredients were scarce. This dish can be made with easily stored ingredients that do not require refrigeration.
Pemmican
Pemmican was a staple survival food of Civil War soldiers and explorers. It was made from a combination of dried meat, fat, and sometimes berries into a high-calorie, shelf-stable snack. This food became very important for concentrated energy and protein during long journeys or when fresh meat was unavailable.
Making pemmican involved drying meat to remove moisture, which helped preserve it for months or even years. Pemmican is still a popular survival food because of its long shelf life and ability to provide quick energy in survival situations.
Dried Beans and Peas
Dried beans and peas were crucial to soldiers’ diets during the Civil War because they were easy to store and provided necessary protein and nutrition. They could be soaked overnight, cooked in stews or soups, or eaten independently.
These legumes are lightweight and compact, thus easy to transport and store for a long time. Because of their versatility and long shelf life, dried beans and peas remain one of the primary staples of any survivalist pantry.
Cornbread
Cornbread was also a very popular but simple food that most Civil War soldiers consumed due to its main ingredient-cornmeal-along with a few basic ingredients like water or milk. This is a fast preparation and requires minimal preparation equipment, which is excellent for people who are surviving on limited resources.
The cornbread could be prepared in massive batches to feed an army of individuals. Cornbread is an affordable and filling meal that can be prepared in many ways: sweet or savory.
Sorghum Syrup
A sweetener produced from the sorghum plant, syrup of this product was highly used during the Civil War and was long considered part of every Southern kitchen. Unlike sugar, which may be hard to obtain in times of its dearth, sorghum syrup can be preserved without refrigeration for long periods.
Its role was mainly to sweeten breads, desserts, and beverages, yielding good calories and flavor in human bodies. People still use sorghum syrup as a sugar alternative, appreciating its shelf-life and distinctive taste.
Dehydrated Vegetables
For the soldiers during the Civil War, dehydrated vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and onions were key because they were easy to carry and had long expiration dates. These vegetables would be rehydrated and added to stews or soups for nutritional value.
Drying vegetables was a suitable method of preserving, as it allowed soldiers and settlers to carry much-needed food supplies over long distances without refrigeration. Desiccated vegetables are still a practical choice for the prepper because they will provide essential vitamins and minerals in a tiny storage space.
Salted Fish
Salted fish was another important food in the Civil War period, which soldiers and sailors primarily consumed due to the need for a long-term source of protein. Heavy salting was applied to the fish to extract its moisture and preserve it without refrigeration.
Salted fish could be consumed straight, in stews, or for flavor in general. This preservation approach is still valuable for contemporary times and is one of today’s primary food sources should any survival situation arise when food is lacking.
Ash Cakes
Ash cakes are a crude form of flatbread in which cornmeal is mixed with water to achieve dough, then cooked directly on hot ashes or stones. This was a major cooking method during the Civil War when traditional methods and ovens were unavailable.
Ash cakes are simple to make and require just a few ingredients. They can be consumed as prepared or used to scoop foods.
Johnny Cakes
Johnny cakes, made from a mixture of cornmeal, water, and salt, were a staple for soldiers and settlers alike during the Civil War. They resembled pancakes and could be cooked quickly on a skillet or griddle.
When materials allow, these cakes are filling and can be flavored with additions such as fruits or sugar. Johnny cakes remain a popular food item today, still an affordable and simple dish for anyone seeking basic comfort food.
Molasses Bread
Molasses bread was a heavy, filling bread with molasses instead of sugar as the sweetener. It was long-lasting and thus convenient during the Civil War as a sweet and nutritious ingredient.
This was the bread of soldiers and civilians, providing nourishment during scarcity. It’s a perfect recipe for preppers simply because molasses can last long, and the bread will provide filling nutrition for emergencies.
Condensed Milk
Condensed milk was also one of the most crucial food items during the Civil War. Entrepreneur Gail Borden was the first American to condense milk in 1853. Milk was preserved without refrigeration. It could then be reconstituted to produce milk to drink or to use in recipes that called for dairy.
Condensed milk is lightweight and compact, making it easy to store and transport. Having it in your storage will provide a reliable source of dairy when fresh milk cannot be accessed in an emergency.
Coffee Substitute
As there was little access to real coffee during the Civil War, soldiers would brew beverages from roasted chicory root, rye, or barley. These substitutes were helpful because they could be stashed away for long periods, and when coffee was unavailable, they could supply one’s caffeine-free needs.
They apply to preppers seeking a durable, non-caffeinated drink substitute. They can also be stored easily and brewed when needed, making them valuable to an emergency food supply.
Homemade Jerky
Homemade jerky was an essential food during the Civil War; dried meat was a way for soldiers to have something portable yet full of protein. The meat was sliced thin, salted, and then air-dried or smoked to preserve it.
Jerky has remained a staple because it lasts long and is easy to store; thus, it is the perfect survival food. Jerky is one of those items a prepper should learn to make and store since it provides a snack that is high in calories, nutritious, and can last for several months.
Cornmeal
Cornmeal was a staple of the Civil War, used for everything from cornbread to Johnny cakes. It is a versatile, long-term staple that can be utilized in a wide range of dishes.
Cornmeal may be ground from dried corn, and it stores quite well without refrigeration, making it ideal for preppers. A stockpile of cornmeal for preppers means a reliable and nutrient-dense food source that can be prepared in several ways.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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