Charcuterie boards can make any occasion feel fancy and festive, be it a casual book club meeting or a large wedding.
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Plus, with hundreds of cheeses, meats and garnishes to choose from, you can get as creative as you want.
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But whether you’re hosting a massive guest list or a small group of friends, building the perfect charcuterie board takes practice.
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To help you create a delicious and beautiful spread, I asked chefs and caterers about everything to keep in mind.
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I also gathered boards and accessories that my experts and NBC Selected editors recommend.
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When I first came across this gorgeous marble board, I immediately added it to my wedding registry.
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Three years later, it’s one of my favorite functional yet display-worthy items in my house.
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The board is adorned with an etched honeycomb pattern and small gold-finished honeybees.
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You can separately purchase a set of three stainless steel, brass-finished cheese knives in a matching design, including a pronged knife for hard cheeses, an oval knife for soft cheeses and a wide-blade knife for semi-hard cheeses.
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There’s also a round version that includes the cheese knives.
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For the past few years, my family gifts me Boarderie charcuterie boards for birthdays and anniversaries (and, most recently, I received one for my apartment move).
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The boards are pre-assembled and ready-to-eat, with artisan cheeses, meats and pairings like crackers, dried fruits, nuts and chocolates.
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Best of all, it gets shipped directly to my door, so I don’t have to worry about doing any of the work.
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Boarderie is also a favorite of NBC Selected commerce editor Bethany Heitman: “I’m always looking for ways to make entertaining easier, and the ready-made charcuterie boards from Boarderie are one of my best secret weapons,” she says.
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“They ship quickly and arrive fully arranged, so you can just open the box and set it out, which makes them a great way to feed a crowd with minimal effort.
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Each of Boarderie’s cheese and charcuterie boards is available in three sizes that serve up to 14 people.
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This year, Boarderie launched dessert charcuterie boards filled with sweet treats, which makes it even more giftable.
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You can personalize this board with an engraved monogram, which makes it stylish and classy for events, says Emmy Rener, founder of cheese and charcuterie shop Sophisticated Spreads.
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Made from a combination of wood and marble, this serving platter comes with three small condiment bowls for your extras and spreadables, like jams, honey, olives and more.
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The brand recommends wiping the platter clean with a damp cloth, and warns that the marble is naturally porous, so it might stain from extensive contact with oily or colorful foods.
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We can help you find
Best for large spreads
Best serving platter
This circular serving platter is an elegant and attractive base to assemble your charcuterie spread on, according to Sarah Simms, co-founder of cheese and charcuterie shop Lady & Larder.
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It’s microwave- and dishwasher-safe, and comes in white and aqua.
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This round board folds into itself for easy storage, but expands to make room for all of your favorite treats.
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It has four tiers, so you can designate a specific food to each one if you prefer they don’t touch.
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It also has a slide-out drawer equipped with cheese knives.
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I have the 13-inch size of this board and love taking it when I have a small gathering with friends.
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The smaller size comes with two cheese knives (an all-purpose, stainless steel cheese knife and a cheese fork), and the larger size (17-inch diameter) includes an additional flat cheese knife.
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If you want something small and simple, consider this Mark & Graham marble board, which is a favorite of Rener’s due to its whimsical scalloped design.
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If you’re stuck on a unique gift idea, you can also customize it with a monogram.
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Keep in mind, the brand recommends hand washing it only.
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Although this is a traditional cutting board set, each one also serves as a great charcuterie tray, says NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin.
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It includes boards in three sizes, so you can choose one that makes the most sense for your spread.
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“You can also make up to three charcuterie boards at once — for example, sometimes I do one with meat, one vegetarian and a nut-free one, depending on who I’m serving,” says Malin.
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The boards also have indents to keep food that tends to roll away (like olives or chocolate-covered almonds) in place.
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Plus, they’re easy to clean: Malin washes them with warm water and dish soap, and they dry quickly.
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Best for beginners
If you’re a charcuterie beginner, the visual map on this one indicates where to place cheeses, meats, fruits and more.
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The board, which comes recommended by Rener, also has a handle so you can take it on the go.
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If you’re a music lover, consider this unique board with a turntable-inspired design.
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It comes with a removable slate platter designed to look like a record, as well as a wooden outer base to hold the platter.
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Lift up the record player “needle” and you’ll find a hidden cheese slicer too.
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…and 70 more, not listed.
The Aporia
