As we adjust to our new everyday lifestyle, it is still possible to enjoy the presence of family and acquaintances by entertaining guests in a safe manner. As the host of an event, it is essential to serve the customary food and drinks, although you don’t have to make them ordinary or uninteresting. The menu for a get-together can be commenced with appetizers, and selecting a proper charcuterie platter is an excellent beginning.
Appetizers offer a great way of pleasing the taste buds of your guests and keeping their stomachs quiet prior to the principal course. Why not find a way to present these treats so that they are both tasty and visually appealing? This is an enjoyable way to show off an amazing meat-and-cheese platter. We are here to assist you in discovering the perfect platters for your celebratory occasions in the upcoming years 2022 and 2023.
Be prepared for an incredible time of entertainment as you create your appetizers! You and your visitors will have just as much joy organizing the hors d’oeuvres as they do eating them.
What Do You Use a Charcuterie Board For?
“A Charcuterie board” is commonly used to show and distribute charcuterie items on a plate, platter, or tray. Charcuterie boards tend to be flat with a lip or handles around the edges, but there is a great deal of variability in their design and size. If you’re needing a charcuterie board for a gathering or a picnic, there is a design perfect for what you are looking for.
A charcuterie board serves the purpose of furnishing a steady and hygienic area to place charcuterie things on. It is essential to have a chopping board that can be conveniently washed and doesn’t accumulate germs if you are serving food that needs to be cut, such as meat and cheese.
Another important function of a charcuterie board is aesthetics. Making your display visually appealing can enhance its allure and draw in more viewers. A board with an eye-catching grain pattern and an attractive color that will make it the star of the show at any gathering.
Why Choose a Charcuterie Board for Appetizers?
A charcuterie board is an inventive way to showcase all the delicious offerings you want to provide to your visitors. It can be a sneak peek of what the rest of the celebration will be like. Make certain that you present the food in an enticing manner that will make your guests look forward to what’s to be served. When it comes to selecting a charcuterie board, familiarize yourself with the benefits of the various materials such as wood, stone, or any other material available.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Charcuterie Board
Here are a few elements to bear in mind when buying a charcuterie board.
Size
Importance of sizing is essential when deciding on a charcuterie board. Make sure the platter is big enough to fit all of the salamis, cheeses, and other food items you intend to offer. You don’t want the item to be so big that it becomes challenging to move around or keep securely.
Shape
Platters of charcuterie can be found in different sizes and forms. The most common shapes are rectangular and round. You can also come across boards that are fashioned into the form of a heart, triangle, or the outline of a state. It comes down to personal preference. Think about which shape is most suitable for your requirements and how it will match the look of your house.
Design
Design defines the look and feel of the board. Charcuterie boards can be simple or ornate. The material used to make them can be either one single piece of wood or multiple pieces stuck together with a glue. An excellent board will be both functional and stylish. A wooden board could be great for a countryside residence, whereas a more contemporary serving tray would be a better fit in a modern-looking space.
Wood Charcuterie Boards
When looking into meat and cheese boards, think about various kinds of woods based on your needs. It is recommended to pick either a non-permeable wood or a wood that has gone through a process that makes it no longer able to absorb liquids. Ultimately, select the one that gives you the most confidence and corresponds the best with your topic and financial plan. Here are a range of types of wood that can be used to make appetizer boards, some of which are more common, and some more intriguing.
Best Wood for Charcuterie Board
Not all woods are suitable for charcuterie boards. Our hardwoods are both pleasing to the eye and useful, but they may not be the cleanest option available. We also have woods with a more delicate texture that can become contaminated with bacteria more easily, yet still have an attractive finish. The following section examines a few of the woods that provide a combination of practicality and attractiveness.
Teak
Teak is chosen often as a prime material for wood cutting boards because it is naturally very sturdy and does not absorb moisture. Teak wood is endowed with a high volume of both rubber and oil, rendering it impervious to water damage, warping, and fracturing. Teak is an extremely heavy wood, so it is capable of supporting the load of weighty charcuterie items without incurring any destruction.
Teak wood has a stunning and attractive brown color that is highlighted with a golden tint. The grain is compact and precise, with an even consistency. With its elevated oil concentration, extended exposure to the sun and warmth may cause the surface of teak timber to darken eventually. Nevertheless, the hue difference does not alter the purpose of the timber. It just adds to the overall splendor of the board.
As well as its attractiveness and sturdiness, teak contains a high amount of silica. Silica provides the durability of glass and quartzite, making them both able to withstand heat and resist against scratches. Teak boards have the ability to hold up beneath knife cuts and rough treatment, which are necessary for the process of making cured meats. The most remarkable thing about this wood is its simplicity to take care of. Using just soap and water is enough to keep your board in mint condition.
Cherry
Cherry wood charcuterie boards are an excellent way to achieve a genuinely rustic aesthetic for your appetizers. Boards made from certain woods may cost more, but the upside is that they can be reversed and include features that make them easy to grip. One can wash these items with a gentle soapy water mixture and lubricate them with a cream that is supplied when you buy it, a cream that is composed of bee’s wax and mineral oil meant for consumption.
Acacia
Acacia is another popular choice for charcuterie boards. The hardwood is lovely with a vast array of shades, ranging from dark brown to bright yellow. The pattern of the Acacia wood is usually straight, but can have a curled or intertwined look, which gives it a quaint appeal. Certain acacia charcuterie boards have a type of construction where the edges are linked together, making them especially attractive and one of a kind, while others consist of the more typical end-grain layout.
Acacia wood is also pretty hard and dense. It can hold a variety of meats and cheeses without breakage when used as a charcuterie board. In addition, acacia wood is naturally waterproof, making it suitable for kitchen usage. Due to the thickness of the wood, it is arduous to mark or scar the surface.
Many folks enjoy Acacia charcuterie boards due to their economical cost. Acacia is much more reasonably priced in comparison to some of the other types of wood on this list. This type of wood is frequently used in furniture and cabinetry and can be located readily. Generally, Acacia boards can be purchased from your nearby home supply shop or on the internet. If you’re after excellent quality for a great price, acacia is the ideal material for your serving platter.
Maple
When we hear “maple,” our minds might be drawn to morning meals, but this stunning hardwood is perfect for producing excellent charcuterie platters. Many individuals think of maple wood as the benchmark for chopping boards. And for a good reason too. Maple is an incredibly hard and dense wood. It is hard to make a dent or mark and can stay intact despite enduring a great amount of use.
The wood has a delicate appearance with a predominant color of either white or a soft cream hue and a delicate graining. The pores on it are packed tightly together, resulting in a soft feeling. Maple wood charcuterie boards have a very plain look, which makes them a great fit for contemporary living spaces.
Cleaning a maple board is also pretty easy. You should just wash it with soapy water on a regular basis; however, you can lubricate it every so often if you would like to keep it in brand-new condition. Maple is affordable and easy to find. One can buy it at the majority of houseware shops or over the internet.
Teak
Teak is another sturdy, organic wood that typically has a low susceptibility to moisture. Alternative: It not only finds application in crafting furniture, it is even used for constructing boats! The sound this instrument produces is quite special, having a lot of depth and complexity that will increase in its beauty as the wood ages. It’s not compulsory to oil a teak charcuterie board on a regular basis like walnut, maple, or cherry boards because teak maintains its own oily properties. Nevertheless, occasionally taking the time to oil it with food-grade mineral oil isn’t a bad practice. If you keep an eye on sustainability, teak may not be the most suitable pick for you.
Olive Wood
Using olive wood is a brilliant way to create a charcuterie board. The hardwood is thick and substantial yet still has a soft feeling to the skin. The wood has a dark brown hue with streaks of black running along it. The grain pattern of olive wood is much different from other hardwoods. The undulating lines bestow the lumber with a great deal of personality and make each plank distinct.
Olive wood has a natural resistance to bacteria making it an excellent choice for charcuterie boards. The natural oils in the wood inhibit the capability of bacteria to prosper. The tightly packed fibers also make it hard for bacteria to get into the wood.
Cleaning olive wood boards is similar to maple. A few good scrubbs with some warm, sudsy water will ensure the surface is spotless. Using food grade mineral oil on the boards periodically will maintain their optimal appearance.
Olive wood is not commonplace, so it tends to be a bit pricier than other alternatives. It’s also not as widely available.
Examples of Wood Boards for Charcuterie in 2023
Here are a few ideas that we think might be worth considering for 2023; however, keep in mind that these are not formally recommended or endorsed. These are ideas to help prime your creative process. We are confident that you can choose an ideal charcuterie board for your gathering that will make it extraordinary! Utilize these options or conduct a different search based upon them.
Cheese Board Set with Cutlery Drawer
Create the perfect party starter with this cheese board and 3-piece utensil set. The set features a slide-out drawer, allowing for convenient storage for the utensils.
Cheese Board with Handles & Cheese Knife
This is another great choice for a charcuterie board. Give your party a touch of extravagance by including cured meats, different types of cheeses, pickled veggies, nuts, crackers, various dips, and flavorful sauces. Make sure your guests don’t overindulge to the point where they don’t enjoy the main course of their meal.
Frux Natural Bamboo Cheese Board and Knife Set
This board is a great choice to think about in 2023, and it comes with cheese knives too. This bamboo tray is produced using environmentally-sound practices and is sizable enough to hold plenty of food (13.3”L x 13.3”W x 1.4”H).
Brightmaison Maggio Charcuterie Board
This cutting board is constructed by hand from acacia wood and has a concealed bracket and all the necessary screws to attach it to the wall. This board is measuring up to 34″ in length and 10.8″ in depth and so if you require a lengthy board presentation, this would be the right choice. You also have the option to combine two of them to increase the size and include additional starters, dips, spreads, and sauces.
Live Edge Walnut Charcuterie Board
This country-style tray is crafted from walnut trees cultivated in Pennsylvania and features handles of leather for easy maneuvering around the house. The underside of this board features four rubber feet to avoid it leaving a mark on any surfaces it is placed on. The wooden material is covered with a food-approved mineral oil and coated with beeswax.
Large Reversible Teak Board with Juice Groove
This board is constructed from teak wood that has been responsibly sourced, and is treated with a 100% food-grade oil. It will be gentle on your knives and also not warp or get scratched. This board is great for both cutting roasted meats and presenting appetizers due to the juice groove.
Bottom Line
Serving visitors with a top-notch selection of charcuterie items can make entertaining them a stress-free activity. The conversation regarding the various kinds of wood displays that every species has its own distinct features. The most suitable wood for a charcuterie board depends on what you prefer in terms of the looks and feel of it, even if there is one better tailored to your needs.
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