A good charcuterie board is a must-have if you love to entertain. Perfect for grazing on various meats and cheeses, they make a beautiful centerpiece or appetizer for any gathering and can be enjoyed during a happy hour, an outdoor picnic, or even a date night. Even though charcuterie, by definition, traditionally refers to cured meats, it’s not uncommon to see creative charcuterie boards filled with everything from fresh fruit to chocolate — think of it like an elevated snack board. Want to fill it up with sweet and savory brunch bites? Or maybe an indulgent dessert board is more your speed. No matter your preference, truly anything goes. With that said, not all charcuterie boards are created equal. Something as simple as an oversized cutting board could fit the bill, or you can go for a serving board that’s a bit more fancy. When looking to purchase the best charcuterie board for you, you’ll want to look at factors like material, size, and shape in order to determine if it will fit all your entertaining needs. And if you are planning to take your board on the go, you may also want to consider its portability. To help you in your search, we’ve rounded up and tested a variety of charcuterie boards in all different shapes and sizes. Read on for our top picks of the best charcuterie boards perfect for large gatherings, parties, personalized gifts, and more. Our Top Picks Best Personalized: Mark & Graham Wood and Marble Cheese Board at Markandgraham.com ($49) Best Pre-Made: Pros This board has a rustic, hand-crafted feel and is comfortable to hold and carry. Cons It’s fairly small, so it may only be suitable for one or two people. It’s hard to beat the hand-crafted design and quality of Verve Culture’s Italian Olivewood Charcuterie Board. The rich olivewood grain unique to each piece and its natural live edge with make a rustic and elegant backdrop to your next charcuterie spread. During our testing, this board managed to hold a large wedge of Brie, one row of crackers, a salami rose, one bunch of grapes, and a small bowl of fig jam. We found it well-balanced and sturdy, which made it easy to carry even without handles. And we love that it has a convenient hole so you can have something to grab onto, or you can even use it to hang the board up for storage when you’re finished. More than just aesthetically pleasing, the olivewood material is also good for helping maintain the sharpness of your knife blade, so you can cut directly on the board without fear of it dulling your favorite cutting utensils. But keep in mind that this board will require some occasional maintenance and care to keep it looking its best. It’s recommended to occasionally coat it with olive or mineral oil to maintain the wood’s pristine finish. Pros This oversized board is perfect for a large gathering, and it has a convenient handle. Cons Its finish can look slightly different in person. If you frequently host large gatherings, then you’re probably looking for a board that can corral a veritable smorgasbord of snacks and hors d’oeuvres. With its large surface area, this Tondo Natural Wood Serving Board from Crate & Barrel can handle that and more. While it isn’t one of the boards we tested, we love its convenient handle, which will make it a bit easier to transport your (likely weighty) charcuterie assortment and can also be great for hanging it during storage. It comes in four attractive finishes, including a natural wood grain that would look great in any kitchen. However, some have noted that the finish looks slightly different in person than in the pictures. Pros Laser engraving is available for a personalized touch, and the wood and marble make an elegant combination. Cons Two different materials can make this board a little more challenging to clean. This part marble, part Acadia wood board is the perfect monogram-inscribed host gift. Each board is entirely unique — not only because of the custom inscription but also due to the natural variations in the marble and wood that make each piece one-of-a-kind. We think it would make a great charcuterie board for a date night or a small spread for one. And when you’re done, simply wipe it with a damp cloth to keep it clean. However, it is important to note that marble can be difficult to care for, and one finish could deteriorate faster than the other with two different materials. Pros We love the high-quality material of this board, and the brass handles allow for easy movement while making this a more decorative or formal option. Cons It’s a bit heavy to move around, even without charcuterie on it. This Marble and Brass Charcuterie Board from West Elm is a stunning marble slab with practical brass handles for serving. It makes the perfect platter for meats and cheeses and is even versatile enough to carry out co*cktails. During our testing, we filled it with two large wedges of cheese, prosciutto, a salami rose, two rows of crackers, a bowl of nuts, and some grapes, so it can hold quite a bit. However, we did find it quite heavy to move around and carry, even without our delicious spread on top. The brass handles do make it a bit easier and more comfortable to hold, but it could stil be an issue if you don’t have much upper body strength. We love its high-end aesthetic, which instantly elevates even the lowest-fuss board of a few types of meat, cheeses, and fresh fruit. And you could even double it as a display tray on a bar cart or kitchen island if you prefer not to move it around too much. The manufacturer recommends washing this board by hand, so be sure to handle it with care as marble can stain and scratch easily. Pros This compact board can be collapsed and expanded for easy storage and transport, and it includes a small drawer of cheese knives. Cons Its tiered design might make it more difficult to clean. The brilliant design of this Compact Swivel Cheese Board makes it a great option for taking on the go for your next picnic or even for serving a versatile charcuterie spread at home. While we haven’t tested it out, we love its round, tiered construction that allows it to collapse into a wedge — designed with a wheel of cheese in mind. And what makes it even better is that this board comes with a built-in drawer of utensils for cutting all your favorite cheeses, so you don’t have to worry about packing them separately. It is recommended that you hand-wash this board, so its tiered design could also make it a bit more difficult to clean. But its overall portability and small footprint make this a great option for people with limited space. Pros This board doubles as a lazy susan and comes with convenient dividers so you can keep your fruit separate from your meats and cheeses. Cons It can be a bit heavy to pick up. It’s not every day you see a charcuterie board that doubles as a lazy susan, but we love the additional functionality it gives this Mikasa Wood Serve Tray. This board is actually quite large, and we think it would be a great pick for Super Bowl party hosts who fill it to the brim with bite-sized snacks. During our testing, it held three full sections of snacks, including four wedges of cheese, two rows of crackers, and a variety of nuts and fruits. We even think it would be great for holding your favorite chips and dip. It also has wrought iron handles that make it easy to carry and comes with convenient removable dividers so you can keep your snacks separate if you need to. We loved the natural grain of the mango wood and think it would make a beautiful base for your next charcuterie spread or appetizers for a large gathering. However, it is recommended that you only wipe it to clean, so maybe steer clear of messier foods. Pros Its material makes it ideal for labeling each food type, and it is easy to clean. Cons It can be hard to move and would likely break if dropped. While slate might be a less common material for charcuterie boards, they are a great way to take the guesswork out of what’s on the plate. This Brooklyn Slate Cheese Board allows you to use soapstone chalk (this version comes with both chalk and a burlap bag) to write directly on the board, identifying the various meats, cheeses, and other goodies. Plus, the unique look is sure to wow the crowd. During our testing, this board held two large wedges of cheese, one row of crackers, one row of salami, a bunch of grapes, and a small bowl of nuts — enough for about one or two people. We found it to be a substantial material, but it was a bit heavy and cumbersome to move. However, it is easy to wash as long as you handle it with delicate care. Slate boards can often show oil marks from the meat or cheese if they are left on too long, so make sure to clean it thoroughly. While anti-slip cork feet are included, slate can be fragile — one drop, and the board will likely shatter. Pros This lavish board comes pre-made, taking all the prep work off your hands. Cons You won’t get to choose the assortment of snacks provided. If you want a lavish spread without all the prep work, then look no further than the Arte Cheese & Charcuterie Board from Boarderie. The reusable acacia wood board comes pre-loaded with a delectable variety of finger foods, including 13 types of cheese, four types of charcuterie, 11 varieties of dried fruits and nuts, and more delicious goodies. It arrives pre-arranged, chilled, and vacuum-sealed for freshness. All you have to do is break the seal, allow it to come to room temperature, and enjoy. Whether you want this for your next gathering or to give as a showstopping gift, it’s sure to be a hit. The only downside is that you can’t hand-pick your favorite snacks and treats to include. But when it looks this good, that probably won’t be too much of a problem. While we don’t have a best overall, the Verve Culture Italian Olivewood Charcuterie Board will ensure a unique, quality board that’s sure to show off your charcuterie display in style. We also love the portable Uncommon Goods Compact Swivel Cheese Board for its compact, swivel design and included cheese knife set. Size is an important factor to consider when choosing the right charcuterie board for you. Ryan Culver, a co-founder of Platterful, a premade charcuterie board business, recommends a board that is 12 x 8 for a more standard charcuterie board. If you are looking for something bigger or to feed a larger crowd, a board around 20 x 12 inches should do the trick. For an idea of how to build a charcuterie board for different sizes, a 12 x 8 inches board will usually hold around two kinds of cheese, one cured meat, and three accompaniments — plus crackers. Charcuterie boards come in various materials, including wood, slate, and marble. You may see other materials like glass or ceramic and various compostable options, too. Wood and bamboo are the most common, but marble and slate are also increasingly popular these days. Your chosen material should depend on how you plan to use the board. Some materials, like marble, can stain easily and require more delicate care. Similarly, the material can affect how heavy your board is to transport and carry, so keep that in mind as well. Another thing to consider when choosing a board is its shape. Most charcuterie boards you find will either be round or rectangular. However, there are increasingly more options on the market that break that standard mold. Some natural wood boards can be more irregularly shaped, showing off the natural edge of the material. Others might be long and thin or even oval-shaped. Whatever shape you choose will affect the board’s functionality when serving. Some might be better for large gatherings and can handle serving lots of people, while others could be better served for a party of one or two. To find the best charcuterie boards, we took into consideration a variety of factors, including the overall aesthetic appeal of the board, its material and weight, how comfortable it was to carry and hold, and — of course — how much food it could handle. We loaded up each board we tested with a variety of snacks, including meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and jams, to assess its functionality and performance and attempted to transport and carry it from one location to another to assess its ease of portability. As we used each board, we also took note of its size and what use cases it would be best suited for, from large gatherings to intimate date nights. Finally, we cleaned them up when we were finished according to the manufacturer’s instructions, noting how easy they were to clean and whether there was any staining or damage from use. Frequently Asked Questions What is a charcuterie board? A charcuterie board is a grazing board designed to hold a variety of meats, cheeses, and finger foods for people to snack on. They are typically made of materials like wood, bamboo, marble, or slate, and they are sometimes sold with accessories like cheese knives, little bowls, or small signs to label the cheeses and meats. They are great for serving appetizers and hors d’oeuvres for small or large groups and allow everyone to snack at their leisure. What do you put on a charcuterie board? A charcuterie board usually has a variety of cheeses, cured meats, and accouterments like olives, dried fruit, or nuts. However, these days, people are getting more and more creative with what they include in their charcuterie spreads. Everything from dessert bites to sweet and savory brunch offerings has become common charcuterie fare, and even condiments such as compound butter can be included. If you’re wondering exactly how you make a charcuterie board, it’s as easy as arranging your favorite snacks and finger foods on a serving board. It can be as simple or as artful as you like, and with only your creativity as the limit, really anything goes. What is the best material for a charcuterie board? Culver prefers wood as it’s the “most traditional but unique material with cool features like live edge or wood grain designs,” he says. Wood charcuterie boards are often filled, which means flavors and oils from the meats and cheeses shouldn’t seep through, and they are also easy to clean. That said, there are many materials to choose from (like slate and marble), so choose one that best reflects your aesthetic preferences. Contributor, experienced food writer, and former associate editor of Eater Chicago, Samantha Lande, selected the best charcuterie boards for meat and cheese displays after speaking with experts and evaluating various models with different features and price points. Arnesia Young is an Associate Commerce Editor at Food & Wine. She updated this piece with insights from our expert testing, where we determined our winners based on their performance, design, material, durability, size, and ease of cleaning.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Best-Charcuterie-Boards-FW-Tout-ab8b681c1b7243e0bac7d8de18d3617b.jpg "The Best Charcuterie Boards for Serving All Your Favorite Meats, Cheeses, and Snacks (1)")
Best Wood
Verve Culture Italian Olivewood Charcuterie Board
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Best Large
Crate & Barrel Tondo Natural Wood Rectangular Serving Board with Handle
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Best Pre-Made
Boarderie Charcuterie Board
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Our Favorite
Factors to Consider
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:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Mikasa-Lazy-Susan-Mango-Wood-Serve-Tray-63b94dc5f2f64f5aaa7131280cd4fb03.jpg "The Best Charcuterie Boards for Serving All Your Favorite Meats, Cheeses, and Snacks (7)")
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