# The humble saltine cracker **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712 "2018-02-28T00:47:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/81 "2018-03-02T19:09:55Z")
Crushed into Campbell’s tomato or chicken noodle soup so it becomes a warm, salty mush. Ahhh, my ultimate comfort food! ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/82 "2018-03-02T21:48:42Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Anyone ever do the “Saltine challenge”? > > Eat six saltines in one minute. No water allowed. > > Harder than it sounds. Then try and whistle. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/83 "2018-03-02T21:51:43Z")
Plain, with a glass of milk on the side, as a snack. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/84 "2018-03-02T22:27:08Z")
I like Price’s Pimento cheese, and then sprinkle a few drops of tobasco. I am not a picky eater. And I do like a dill pickle spear on the side ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2018, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/85 "2018-03-03T02:40:56Z")
I discovered something good to go on my saltines today: [Trader Joe’s Smoked Salmon Dip with Capers](https://forkustl.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/smoked-salmon-dip-trader-joes/). Very tangy, if not terribly salmon-y. But yummy, nevertheless. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2018, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/86 "2018-03-03T03:10:28Z")
When I had the flu a few weeks back I sent my son to the grocery for saltines and Gatorade. I may get some peanut butter out and have some of the remaining ones for lunch tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2018, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/87 "2018-03-03T03:33:20Z")
> [@AirFarce1](#): > > I have two ways I like to eat them: > > - With a glass of REALLY cold milk; dunk and eat _Crawls under the bed and shudders at the thought of someone defiling milk by dunking something in it._ ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/88 "2018-03-22T12:17:13Z")
From another [thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=851524). This elevates the humble saltine to yummy, chocolatey heights… > [@Q for Aussies: what constitues a "slice"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-for-aussies-what-constitues-a-slice/810996/5): > > … > My sister likes to make this thing where you line a 9" X 12" inch baking pan with saltine crackers, then pour a hot sauce made mostly from butter and sugar all over them, and bake for a while. Then as soon as you take it out of the oven you pour a layer of chocolate chips on top, wait a couple of minutes for them to melt, then spread the chocolate into an even layer, and finally sprinkle chopped nuts all over it. Would you call that a ‘slice,’ too? > … ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/89 "2018-03-22T15:04:51Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > From another [thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=851524). This elevates the humble saltine to yummy, chocolatey heights… I’m not sure if this has been mentioned upthread, but crack candy made with saltines is out of this world. This reminded me of it, except instead of hot sauce it’s chocolate chips, butter and brown sugar. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/90 "2018-03-22T15:12:42Z")
Finely chop cabbage, onion, celery and mix with roughly broken saltines. Dump into a casserole dish, pour in a basic custard of 1 egg to one cup of milk seasoned with black pepper and bake at 350 f til the custard is set. Depression era farm food and sort of an odd comfort food for me. N.B.-adjust the quantity of custard to solids so it is casserole like, not too dry or soupy. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/91 "2018-03-22T17:18:11Z")
I love Premium Saltines with Philadelphia Cream Cheese, made into sandwiches. That goes back to my childhood days as a snack my mom regularly made us when we had been very good. I like them with peanut butter, too, but I generally make peanut butter sandwiches with Ritz crackers instead. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/92 "2018-03-22T18:00:47Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > From another [thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=851524). This elevates the humble saltine to yummy, chocolatey heights… > [@Patx2](#): > > I’m not sure if this has been mentioned upthread, but crack candy made with saltines is out of this world. This reminded me of it, except instead of hot sauce it’s chocolate chips, butter and brown sugar. This can also be made with matzot (with salt added). 'Tis the season. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/93 "2018-03-22T18:26:04Z")
I completely agree about the humble saltine, my go-to cracker of choice. As a wine lover, I often do a bit of sipping with various snacks, and many of those interesting cheeses, patés, and spreads are proudly borne atop a humble saltine. I basically found fancier crackers too intrusive in terms of either taste or texture. Water crackers\*, for instance, tend to be much harder than saltines, which I find undesirable. Being humble, the saltine is content to act as an unintrusive delivery system, like a good butler, that doesn’t compete with what it’s delivering. P.S.- I thought I had invented the perverse practice of saltines with a bit of [unsalted] butter and nothing else, but at least three people have mentioned it. It’s surprising that it’s good if that’s what you’re in the mood for, but it is. P.P.S.- Absolutely YES to saltines with tomato soup! Essential! – - I used to use Carr’s water crackers, which were notable for holding a Royal Warrant, allowing them to use the inscription “By appointment to HM Queen Elizabeth II”. I was tempted to inform Her Majesty that she was doing it wrong. Oh, sure, for a state banquet, by all means, but when you and Phil just want a snack up in the Royal Apartments, Ma’am, you’d be better off with saltines. Apparently, [she found this out for herself](http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk/news/Carrs-Table-Water-biscuits-lose-Royal-stamp-of-approval-6a30aa25-09ed-4bd6-a406-4ba348c5bcb8-ds). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/94 "2018-03-22T19:03:51Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I basically found fancier crackers too intrusive in terms of either taste or texture. … Nobody likes an uppity cracker. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/95 "2018-03-22T19:57:19Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Are there saltines in other countries (I never go anywhere)? I just realized that I answered your first question (yes, I love 'em) but not this one or the brands question. They’re certainly available and popular in Canada, but aren’t called saltines here, they’re called soda crackers. Probably the most popular brand is Christie Premium Plus, which turns out to be the same as Nabisco Premium in the US (Nabisco owns Christie). I just buy the big four-pack box by appearance and wouldn’t even have been able to tell you the brand until I looked at it just now. According to [this](http://ameringlish.blogspot.ca/2011/11/they-dont-have-saltines-in-england.html), the exact same thing is not available in the UK (unfortunately for Her Majesty) but there are close substitutes. William and Kate could always bring her back a few boxes since they’re always coming over here for some reason. Perhaps one of the many UK residents who haunt these boards could comment on what they have over there. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/96 "2018-03-22T20:52:10Z")
ThelmaLou, I was at an Asian market the other day and thought of this thread. I checked to see if they had anything interesting. They have small packs of “Fragrant Crackers” or some such wording. One of them had a long list of spices that I think is pretty much 5 spice powder. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/97 "2018-03-22T21:44:16Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Saltines are just a normal, cheap, everyday cracker. A 1 lb box is usually anywhere from $3-$5. It’s not a “oh my god, you just _have_ to try this!” type of food. They’re basically along the lines of your water biscuits/crackers, but a bit flakier, more delicate and square shaped. My father has eaten peanut butter and saltines for lunch for as long as I can remember, and he is appalled that even the store brand has jumped up to over $2. He ponders, what could have happened to make it shoot up recently? I enjoyed saltines with grape jelly inside as a kid. I liked/was faintly repulsed by how the jelly squeezed through all the holes. But here is my question: I just assumed for a PB and saltine 'sandwich", that you would PB the unsalted sides so that your tongue gets a little shot of salt from the outside of the crax as you eat it. Pop says no, the salt goes in the inside. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/98 "2018-03-22T22:03:21Z")
Salt side in. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/99 "2018-03-22T22:06:16Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > ThelmaLou, I was at an Asian market the other day and thought of this thread. I checked to see if they had anything interesting. They have small packs of “Fragrant Crackers” or some such wording. One of them had a long list of spices that I think is pretty much 5 spice powder. > > Dennis I’m very touched by your post. I always assume that this board is the only place I exist. The fact that you thought of my thread when you weren’t actually on your computer is, oh I dunno, existentially validating or something. Thank you. 🙂 > [@gigi](#): > > … > But here is my question: I just assumed for a PB and saltine 'sandwich", that you would PB the unsalted sides so that your tongue gets a little shot of salt from the outside of the crax as you eat it. Pop says no, the salt goes in the inside. What say you? You are correct. Salt on the outside for just the reason you name. But don’t diss the old fart\*-- he must be allowed to have his illusions. \*He’s probably a lot younger than I am. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712/100 "2018-03-23T17:06:13Z")
Salt definitely on the outside! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humble-saltine-cracker/809712.md?page=6)