Back to the front page
American History

What Cowboys Really Ate on the Trail: The Surprising Diet of the Old West

article ai 6870aaac3966d

2. Salt Pork and Bacon

2. Salt Pork and Bacon
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Salt pork and bacon were prized trail foods, valued for their long shelf life and high calorie content. Unlike the bacon found in modern supermarkets, these cuts were heavily salted and cured, making them tough but ideal for travel. Preserving meat with salt or smoke was essential to prevent spoilage on the dusty plains. For more on these historic methods, visit this guide to cowboy cooking.

Written by

Keep reading

Advertisement