Part 6/8:
The potential hazards of hardtack were not limited to its texture but extended to possible infestations. Soldiers were often warned about the dangers of consuming hardtack that had gone soggy or moldy, both of which could affect the taste and quality, resulting in unwanted pests floating in their coffee after breaking up hardtack into it.
Despite its challenges, hardtack could be transformed into various dishes, including skillygalee, lobscouse, and even a pudding. Perhaps the most inventive was hardtack pudding, where ground hardtack was combined with wheat flour and transformed into a sweet dessert.