What Is A Charcuterie Board And How To Use It?

Instagram and Pinterest are filled with aesthetic shots of breathtakingly beautiful food arranged on rustic wooden boards. Crackers, meats, cheeses, grapes, and nuts are all perfectly placed to create a work of art that is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the stomach.

This is a charcuterie board, and it has been having a moment for quite some time now.

To best explain what charcuterie boards are and how to use them, we must first understand where they come from.

The origin of charcuterie

Charcuterie [pronounced shaa·koo·tuh·ree] is a French term that refers to the art of making cured meat. Char means meat or flesh, and cuit means cooked. This practice dates back to ancient times when people first started preserving meats by salting and smoking them.

The art of charcuterie eventually made its way to France, where it became a staple in French cuisine. Charcuterie boards were created as a way to showcase these cured meats, examples of which include:

Ham
Pâté (a type of spread made from liver and other meats)
Confit (a method of cooking where meat is slowly cooked in its fat)
Rillettes (a type of pâté made from shredded or pull-apart meat)
Sausage
Prosciutto
Salami
Bacon and more

Charcuterie boards have come a long way since their humble beginnings. While they still typically feature cured charcuterie meat, they now also include a variety of other ingredient options such as:

Cheese (such as goat cheese, blue cheese, soft cheeses, an assortment of hard cheeses, etc.)
Crackers
Bread (such as sliced baguette)
Fruit (both fresh fruit and dried fruit)
Nuts and nut spreads
Vegetables (fresh and pickled vegetables)

Charcuterie boards can be customized to fit any occasion or taste. They make for a great appetizer or main course – similar to cheese boards – and can be served at parties, family gatherings, or even as a romantic dinner for two.

What are charcuterie boards made from?

Traditionally, charcuterie boards were made from wood. This is because wood is a sturdy material that can withstand the weight of the meats and other items that are typically placed on charcuterie boards.

Nowadays, charcuterie boards can be made from a variety of materials such as:

Wood
Plastic
Bamboo
Marble and more

Live edge charcuterie boards are a type of charcuterie board made from wood. The term “live edge” refers to the fact that at least one edge of the board is left in its natural state – curved and imperfect.

Live edge charcuterie boards are unique in that each one is completely different from the next. This is because each board’s live edge is determined by the shape of the tree it came from.

Live edge charcuterie boards are the perfect way to add a rustic touch to any occasion. They are also a great way to show your culinary creations in style!

How to use a charcuterie board

Before we give you some tips and tricks on how to make the most out of your charcuterie board, first, let’s take a look at how to choose the right one for your needs.

When choosing a charcuterie platter, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind:

Size – Charcuterie boards come in all different shapes and sizes. The size of the board you choose will depend on how many people you plan on serving and what types of food you plan on putting on it.
Material – As we mentioned before, charcuterie boards can be made from a variety of materials. If you’re looking for a board that is eco-friendly, then bamboo or wood would be the best choice. If you’re looking for something easy to clean, plastic or marble would be your best bet. (However, don’t think that wood or bamboo boards are too difficult to clean.)
Shape – Charcuterie boards can be found in many shapes, from rectangular to round. The shape of the board you choose should be based on your personal preference and the amount of space you have to work with.

Now that you know how to choose the right charcuterie board for your needs, let’s look at how to use it.

When setting up your charcuterie board, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind:

Arrange the sliced meat and sliced cheese first, and then fill in the gaps with crackers, bread, fruit, nuts, and vegetables.

Think about dips or spreads – you may want to provide a few options for your guests to choose from. Arrange each one in a small bowl or ramekin and evenly space them out on the board.

Create various textures and flavor profiles – this will help keep your guests’ taste buds guessing. Colors are also important – the visual aspect of your charcuterie or cheese board should not be overlooked. The red of the cherry tomato, the orange of a dried apricot, the green of an olive… Let your imagination run wild!

Make sure to cut the meats and cheeses into bite-sized pieces so that your guests can easily grab them.

If you’re serving a variety of meats, cheeses, and other items, make sure to label them so that your guests know what they are.

Charcuterie boards are a great way to impress your guests with your culinary creations. However, don’t feel like you have to go overboard. A simple charcuterie board with a few types of meats, cheeses, and other items is all you need to make a lasting impression.

One final tip: don’t forget the drinks! A perfect charcuterie board is not complete without a nice glass of wine or beer.

Conclusion – where to get a charcuterie board

There’s no doubt that charcuterie boards are all the rage right now. And for a good reason, they’re easy to put together, look great, and are a perfect way to impress your guests.

You can get a charcuterie board from a variety of places, such as your local grocery store, kitchenware store, or online.

However, if you’re looking for a truly unique charcuterie board, you’ll want to get a live-edge charcuterie board. Live edge boards are made from wood, and each one is completely different from the next due to the shape of the tree it came from.

The benefits of getting a live edge board are:

Each board is unique.
They add a rustic touch to any occasion.
They’re a great conversation starter.

If you’re looking for a live edge charcuterie board, we recommend checking out our selection at Bali Teak Collective. We offer a variety of different boards, all made from high-quality wood.