Learn how to cut strawberries for charcuterie boards and fruit platters with these 6 easy methods.
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Making a Fresh Fruit Charcuterie Board
Making the ultimate fruit board for parties and events is easier than you might think. In this post we’ll walk you through how to cut strawberries for charcuterie boards or fruit platters! We also include all our tips and tricks for making a fresh fruit charcuterie board.
How to Cut Strawberries for Charcuterie
There are many different ways to cut strawberries for charcuterie and food boards. Here are some of our favorite ways to prepare and display strawberries:
1. cut off the tops
One super easy way to prepare strawberries is to simply remove the tops. Use a paring knife to cut off the green leafy section, leaving just the red and juicy bottom of the strawberry. This makes them easy to eat with no mess or hassle.
2. Strawberry Halves
If you’re wanting something more bite sized, try cutting your strawberries in half vertically. This is another great way to add variety of texture and shape to any fresh fruit board. For this method, you can either leave the top of the berry on or cut it off.
3. Strawberry Roses
Strawberries are one of the best fruit options for any fruit platter because of the various ways they can be cut and shaped. One beautiful way to cut strawberries for a charcuterie board is to make strawberry roses. Although they may look impressive, they are surprisingly simple to create!
Start by cutting off the green top of the strawberry and placing it upside down on the flat side. Beginning at the bottom and working your way up, cut small petal-like slices around the strawberry. Be sure not to cut all the way through the berry or your petal pieces will fall off.
Work your way up the strawberry, staggering the petal slices as you go up each level. Depending on the size of your strawberry, you can have 3-5 levels/rows of petals. Use your knife to push the strawberry petals outward, to give the appearance of a blossoming rose.
4. Whole Strawberries
If you’re trying to achieve a more rustic look with your food board, consider leaving your strawberries whole. Serving fresh strawberries whole creates a more natural look and gives another pop of color to your spread.
Serving your strawberries whole is also a great option if you want to save time on preparing your fruit. Whether you’re making a traditional cheese board or a fun fruit platter, don’t be afraid to add whole strawberries.
5. Strawberry Hearts
Cute strawberry hearts are the perfect addition to any date night or Valentine’s day charcuterie board. Not only are they easy to make, but they are adorable! You’ll definitely want to keep this technique in mind for your next party or special occasion.
Start by washing your strawberries and drying them. Cut them in half vertically with the tops still on. Then, lay them down flat with the seed side up. Use a paring knife to shape the top to look like a heart while removing the green top.
These adorable strawberry hearts look great on a traditional charcuterie board platter or on sticks. Dip them in chocolate to take this sweet treat to the next level.
6. Strawberry Fans
Strawberry fans are a fast and easy way to make your strawberries look elegant. Here is the easiest way to cut strawberry fans.
Start with a whole strawberry with the top still on. Lay the strawberry on its side and use a small paring knife to make vertical cuts through the strawberry, starting just below the top of the berry. Be careful not to slice through the top of the strawberry or else your slices will just fall off.
After making thin slices all the way across the strawberry, push down to apply pressure to the sliced berry. This will cause the slices to fan out, creating a beautiful strawberry fan.
Best Fruits For a Fruit Tray
There are endless possibilities for what to add to your simple fruit charcuterie board. Here are some of our favorite fruits to try at your next gathering:
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Apple slices
- Citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, clementines)
- Stone fruits (peaches, apricots, plums, mangos)
- Pears
- Pineapple
- Melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew)
- Kiwis
What to Pair With Strawberries on Charcuterie Boards
One of the most helpful tips to make a good charcuterie board is understanding food pairings. Luckily, there are so many things that pair wonderfully with sweet strawberries. Here are just a few of our favorites:
- Soft cheeses (goat cheese, blue cheese, brie, etc.)
- Fruit dips (cream cheese fruit dip, yogurt dip, etc.)
- Chocolate
- Hard cheeses (cheddar & smoked gouda)
- Shortbread cookies
- Angel food cake, shortcake, or pound cake
Tips & Tricks For Preparing Fruit For A Charcuterie Board
Here are a few easy tips and tricks that will help you create and serve the perfect charcuterie board using fresh fruit:
- Refrigerate fruit until right before serving so that it remains fresh and cool.
- Make sure you’re using ripe fruit. Serving fruit that is under ripe or overripe will put a damper on your food board.
- Brush a little bit of lemon juice on fruits that might turn brown when peeled. Fruits like apples and bananas can start to brown after the inside of the fruit is exposed to oxygen. Lemon juice will delay the browning process and preserve this fruit while it’s being served.
- If you decide to assemble your fruit tray the night before, make sure to store it in the fridge completely covered with plastic wrap or tin foil.
- Use small bowls and little spoons to serve fruit dips on your charcuterie board.
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