How To Eat A Charcuterie Board: Easy Guide To Success

How to Eat a Charcuterie Board: Easy Guide To Success

Learn how to eat a charcuterie board with this easy guide to making the perfect food spread that everyone will enjoy!

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Making A Perfect Charcuterie Board

One of the most popular food displays for parties and events is the beloved and iconic charcuterie board. This commonly entails spreads of fine cheeses and meats or rustic grazing tables with fruits, nuts, and jams. Whether you want a dinner-worthy charcuterie board or the perfect appetizer, charcuterie style dining is just the thing for your next party.

Though it might seem daunting, creating the perfect charcuterie experience can be made simple with just a few easy tips and tricks. In this post, we explain the ins and outs of selecting foods, tips for styling your platter, and how to eat a charcuterie board with ease.

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What is a Charcuterie Board?

A charcuterie board is a communal food platter that originated in France. It features foods like cured meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, nuts, crackers, breads, and various sauces. The term charcuterie is a french word that basically means “cured meat”.

Nowadays, it seems like charcuterie boards are all the rage. However, charcuterie boards actually date back to at least the 15th century. In France, charcuterie was originally a method of preserving and eating meat.

Though charcuterie has French origins, there are many other cultures that have similar types of dishes and food arrangements. Modern charcuterie boards feature foods from various cultures and countries of origin.

What To Put On A Food Board

A classic charcuterie board usually includes items like cold meats, artisan cheeses, fruits, various nuts, crackers, and dips. However, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating a food board. Here are a few ideas of what you might like to include when making a more classic charcuterie platter.

selection of meats

Including meat products on your board is a great way to create a more hearty and filling spread. Some of our favorite charcuterie meats include hard salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, summer sausage, and Virginia ham. Most dry-cured meat makes a great addition to any cheese and meat board.

variety of cheeses

Trying different cheeses is one of the funnest parts of creating the perfect cheese board. Including a mixture of both hard cheese and soft cheese not only enhances the culinary experience but also helps aesthetically.

Some of our favorite cheese options include brie cheese, smoked cheddar, gruyere, aged gouda, blue cheese, and goat cheese. If you’re looking for artisan cheeses or traditional french cheese, try visiting your local cheese shop! It’s a great way to find options for making an elegant cheese plate.

fresh fruit and dried fruit

With so many salty and savory counterparts, fruit brings an essential sweet element to complete any charcuterie platter. We like to include a mix of fresh fruit and dried fruit that pairs well with various cheeses and nuts.

Grapes, olives, and berries are some of our go-to fruits that pair very well with cheese. Stone fruits also make a great addition to any food board. These include things like cherries, apricots, plums, peaches, and nectarines.

crackers and nuts

While there are some crackers that are commonly found on food boards, we like to have fun with our unique cracker selections. For a more simple cracker, we like water crackers, butter crackers (like ritz), multigrain crackers, or even crostinis.

If you’re looking for something with a little more pizazz, flavored crackers can really add to your spread. Some of our favorites include pita crackers (mediterranean herb flavor), Triscuits (jalapeño or herb flavors are amazing), and mini pita or naan breads.

Nuts are a great element to include as well. We love using marcona almonds, pistachios, cashews, pecans, and peanuts.

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sauces and dips

If you’re wondering how to eat a charcuterie board properly, it wouldn’t be complete without sauces and dips. The options are endless, but we especially love things like hummus, honey, jam or marmalade, spinach and artichoke, etc.

How To Eat A Charcuterie Board

Now that you know what goes on your charcuterie board, let’s talk about how to eat a charcuterie board. These tips and tricks will explain what foods are best eaten together, best serving techniques for guests, and what tools or utensils you might need.

Tips for serving

Refrigerated items: Fresh fruits, cheeses, and meats should be refrigerated until right before assembling the board. Your board should not sit out unrefrigerated for more than two hours.

Room temperature items: Crackers, nuts, dried fruit, honey, and anything else not stored in the fridge can be served at room temperature.

Meats: Thin slices of meat are easiest to serve on charcuterie boards. Bite sized items are best for guests to pick up and eat.

Utensils: Include toothpicks, mini skewers, or small tongs for guests to pick up items.

Sauces and dips: Place sauces and dips in small bowls with a spoon for scooping. Use honey dippers to drizzle honey.

Cheeses: Pre-cut any hard cheese into smaller pieces. Have small cheese knives near any soft cheese that’s not pre-cut.

Washing produce: Wash and dry fresh fruit or vegetables before serving.

Small plates: Have small plates available for guests to place food on.

Early preparation: You can prepare some charcuterie items beforehand like cutting cheeses and slicing fruits and veggies. Any refrigerated items should be put back in the fridge in airtight containers until assembly. This will prevent them from spoiling.

Assembly: For best results, final assembly of your food board should be right before serving. Some elements of the charcuterie board can be assembled beforehand or even the night before.

However, be sure to keep wet and dry elements separated until you’re assembling to serve. Crackers and breads can get soggy if left in the fridge overnight touching produce, meats, and cheeses.

Best Food Pairings

Cheeses: Brie cheese, goat cheese, blue cheese, and sharp aged cheese taste amazing drizzled with honey. Sharp aged cheese tastes great with sweet dried fruits like cherries, apricots, and cranberries.

Meats: Of course, salami and pepperoni pairs perfectly well with most semi soft and hard cheeses. Spicy meats are complemented by crackers, breads, and olives. Prosciutto tastes amazing when paired with sweet things like berries, soft cheeses, honey, and even jam.

Fruits & vegetables: Fruits like berries, grapes, and stone fruits have a sweet and tangy flavor that pairs well with cheese. If you choose to incorporate vegetables, these are perfect for eating with dips like hummus.

Crackers & nuts: Meat, cheese, and crackers are the holy trinity of charcuterie. You can’t go wrong with a crunchy cracker topped with cheddar, gouda, or gruyere and some salami. Spread soft cheese like brie or blueberry goat cheese onto a cracker and top with fruit, nuts, and prosciutto.

Fun Charcuterie Board Ideas

Though meat, cheese, and fruit boards are common, you can make a charcuterie board with any food you want! All you need is a large board, your favorite treats, and a little creativity. Here are a few charcuterie board ideas that are perfect for special occasions:

Breakfast/brunch charcuterie board
Dessert charcuterie board
Fruit and veggie board
S’mores charcuterie board
Christmas themed food board
Valentines treat charcuterie platter

Other Food Board Ideas You Might Like

Summer Charcuterie Board

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FAQ’s

Do you eat a charcuterie board with your hands?

You can! For small intimate gatherings, you might prefer to eat from your food board with your hands. However, for large parties or events, it’s often easiest to provide some type of serving utensil like small tongs or skewers to pick up food.

Once guests have transferred their food to a smaller individual plate, they can enjoy it with their hands if desired.

Do you eat charcuterie with a fork?

Normally, charcuterie platters are not eaten with a fork. The rustic nature of grazing tables and food boards usually calls for something a little less formal. Since it is generally a communal style of eating, food is self served by guests onto a smaller plate and then eaten.

What is the rule of 3 for charcuterie boards?

The rule of 3 for charcuterie boards means adding 3 meats, 3 cheese, 3 starches, 3 sweets. This will ensure that your charcuterie platter has enough variety of flavors and textures.

What not to put on a charcuterie board?

Avoid putting any cooked foods on your charcuterie board. Cooked meats or cooked vegetables are not generally found on food boards. Instead use cured meats and fresh vegetables and fruits.

Should you cut cheese on a charcuterie board?

Hard cheese is easier to serve and eat when it is pre-cut into bite sized pieces. However, some soft cheeses like brie or goat cheese may be difficult to pre-cut into pieces. Soft cheese can be served in larger slabs with a cheese knife for cutting off smaller pieces.

Do you put bread or crackers on a charcuterie board?

Both! Crackers and bread both make a great addition to any food board. We like to have at least 3 different kinds of starches on our platters, which can include various crackers or a mix of crackers and bread.

Can you cut the cheese for charcuterie the night before?

Yes! You can pre cut cheese, fruits, and vegetables the night before your dinner party or event. Just be sure to place the items in a sealed container in the refrigerator until assembling the board.

How do you cut strawberries for a charcuterie board?

There are many ways to cut strawberries for charcuterie. A few serving methods include cutting off the tops, cutting them into halves, and the strawberry rose cutting design. We also like to serve them whole with the tops for a more rustic look.

Do you eat a charcuterie board before or after dinner?

Before! Charcuterie is generally served as an appetizer before a main entrée. However, a charcuterie platter with enough food elements can sometimes be served in place of a meal depending on the event.

Can I use a cutting board as a charcuterie board?

Yes! Because wooden cutting boards are treated for food prep, they are safe and beautiful to use as a charcuterie serving platter if you desire.

Are charcuterie boards good the next day?

Yes! Just make sure you refrigerate any necessary items like meat, cheese, and produce overnight. If these items aren’t stored properly, they are no longer safe to consume.