What did old time sailors eat?

The main rations were salt beef or pork, cheese, fish, ale and some form of ship's biscuit. The quality of food deteriorated because of storage problems, lack of ventilation, and poor drainage. It was also affected by the presence of rats and other vermin on board.
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What did ancient sailors eat?

Sailors would eat hard tack, a biscuit made from flour, water and salt, and stews thickened with water. In contrast, captains and officers would eat freshly baked bread, meat from live chickens and pigs, and had supplements such as spices, flour, sugar, butter, canned milk and alcohol.
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What food did sailors eat in the 1700s?

For months, they were away at sea, sustaining themselves on an unsteady diet that included brined beef, dirty water, and tough crackers known as ship biscuit. In the days before pasteurization, seasickness likely came more often from the food than the waves.
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What did sailors eat for breakfast?

Mariners ate a breakfast meal of biscuits, wine, and a little salted pork or some sardines. The noon meal or dinner was the largest meal of the day and supper was served before sunset and it consisted of a quantity of half of what was eaten at noon.
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What did sailor eat in the 18th century?

The sailors received a hot meal every day with meat four times a week, a pound of bread and a gallon of beer each day. Although the food was unappetising, these rations provided more than what most people had in England at the time. Food, called 'victuals', was rationed daily.
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The Food of a British Sailor in Nelson's Royal Navy!



What did 15th century sailors eat?

The main rations were salt beef or pork, cheese, fish, ale and some form of ship's biscuit. The quality of food deteriorated because of storage problems, lack of ventilation, and poor drainage.
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What did Vikings eat while sailing?

Food would have been dried or salted meat or fish. It could only be cooked if the crew were able to land. They'd drink water, beer or sour milk. The hardship of life on board, especially in rough seas, meant that Vikings did not make voyages in the winter but waited until spring.
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How did sailors keep meat fresh?

Navy sailors ate salted meat packed in barrels full of salt and brine to prevent spoilage. This process involved cutting meat down to manageable pieces, placing it in a wooden barrel, adding copious amounts of salt, and then filling the barrel with brine.
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What did old sailors drink?

A gallon of beer was the original rationed drink for sailors, but it too could spoil easily at sea. Around 1655, many ships switched over to rum rations instead. It didn't rot inside barrels and also didn't take up as much room as beer, freeing precious space for cargo.
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How did they stay warm on old ships?

Heating in the old sailing ships, many of which were in use until the late 1870s, was almost non-existent. The only fire allowed on board was the one in the galley on which the food was prepared. Wood or coal was used as fuel. The cabin and sick bay were heated by hot shot partially buried in sand in an iron bucket.
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What did the Titanic have for lunch?

On 14 April, the steerage lunch menu consisted of rice soup, fresh bread, cabin biscuits (often eaten to alleviate seasickness), roast beef and brown gravy, sweetcorn, boiled potatoes, plum pudding, sweet sauce and fruit.
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What did pirates eat out at sea?

Dried meats, like jerky, were extremely popular. But dried plants could offer up a surprising amount of protein as well. Beans were a major item on pirate ships. Beans and other pulses also ensured that the average pirate had some fiber in their diet. Fruits and vegetables tended to go bad fairly early on in a voyage.
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What did sailors eat to prevent scurvy?

The British began storing citrus fruits on board all of its ships. The British Navy gave its sailors limes or lemon juice rations to ward off scurvy – earning them the nickname of "Limeys" among the American sailors who didn't know about or believe in the preventative treatment.
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What did Christopher Columbus sailors eat?

Food Aboard Ships Was Dry and Often Filled With Maggots

Staples included dried and salted anchovies and cod, pickled or salted beef and pork, dried grains like chickpeas, lentils and beans, and, of course, hardtack biscuits.
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What did pirates drink out of?

tankard. A cylindrical, single-handled drinking mug, usually made of pewter.
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Why do sailors starve rather than eat fish?

Because fish are not always around exactly where you are. Just like on land, there are small places where the sea is incredibly full of fish, and very large areas with nothing at all. If you're sailing through one of those deserted areas, you might be going hungry for awhile. Fish dislike being caught.
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What did pirates drink while at sea?

Fresh water was extremely difficult to keep clean during long voyages at sea. Water was stored in barrels and quickly became stagnant and unsafe to drink. However, adding rum to the water made it safe to drink. In fact, rum played a big part in the history of the British Royal Navy.
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How did pirates stay hydrated?

Stagnant drinking water

Water, rum, and lime was the pirate's well-known drink of choice. The navy also used this drink for their sailors, so the sailors would stay hydrated, and this was rationed to them only two times a day, but the pirates drank their drink of choice anytime they wanted.
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What was Jack Sparrow drinking?

Rum was the preferred alcoholic drink of pirates, particularly favored by Captain Jack Sparrow.
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How did people keep their food cold 100 years ago?

Community cooling houses were an integral part of many villages to keep meat, fruit and vegetables stored. At various points in time ice houses were built often underground or as insulated buildings – these were used to store ice and snow sourced during winter, to keep foods cold during the warmer months.
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How did Native Americans keep meat from spoiling?

One of the most popular ways for Native Americans to keep their meat for longer was by smoking it. While salting was generally known as a good preservative option, salt was usually hard to come by which meant that smoking was one of the leading ways to preserve fish, bison and other meats.
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How did pioneers keep meat from spoiling?

The meat was rubbed with salt, placed it in wooden barrels and topped off with water, making a brine. The brine kept the meat moister and more palatable than drying, and it prohibited the growth of harmful organisms. Making butter was a common way to preserve milk.
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What did Vikings eat to get so big?

The Vikings needed all the energy that they could get in the form of fat – especially in winter. Meat, fish, vegetables, cereals and milk products were all an important part of their diet. Sweet food was consumed in the form of berries, fruit and honey. In England the Vikings were often described as gluttonous.
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How did Vikings go to the toilet at sea?

The ship's one toilet is a small transportable camp-toilet which is placed under deck in the bow. Under deck does not mean that you can go UNDER deck and hide. It just means that you will have to remove a few deck planks to reveal the toilet. The other toilet will be mounted when the ship is anchored t.
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What was a traditional Viking breakfast?

Typical Viking Meals

Dagmal was the morning meal in which the adults would eat leftover stew from the night before with bread and fruit. The children would usually have porridge and dried fruit or, on occasion, buttermilk and bread.
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