The 5 Best Charcuterie Boards

Have you tried charcuterie yet? Charcuterie is a type of food preservation. It's used for meat products such as bacon, ham, pates, and other cured meat dishes. Charcuterie typically comes served on a butcher block style wooden charcuterie board. Along with the meat, it's common to find crackers, fruits, and cheese. It's a super simple meal, but it looks impressive. If you're ready to make your own charcuterie, you'll need a charcuterie board. Here are five of the best ones you can buy, one of them is sure to meet your needs.

Bambusi Cheese Board and Knife Set Bamboo Wood Charcuterie Platter Serving Tray with Cutlery

Designed with Charcuterie in Mind

This charcuterie board features grooves and a hidden drawer.
Best Overall

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If you’re looking for a dedicated charcuterie board, look no further. This bamboo board has the features you need to serve charcuterie in style. There are grooves around the edges to hold crackers, nuts, or other finger foods. The top of the platter is perfect for serving your cheese, meat, and fruit. Since it’s made from nonporous bamboo, you don’t have to worry about your board absorbing odors. This board comes with a cutlery set of four cutting and serving tools. They have of stainless steel, and have bamboo handles that are comfortable to grip.

Pros

  • Grooves along the edge
  • Comes with cutting and serving utensils
  • Nonporous bamboo

Cons

  • The hidden drawer is a little tight to open

Large Organic Bamboo Cutting Board with 3 Built-In Compartments and Juice Grooves

Organic Bamboo Charcuterie Board

Made from organic bamboo, this board has a unique design.
Best Organic Board

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You can serve charcuterie on any wooden cutting board. This one is a great option. Made from organic bamboo, it’s natural and BPA free. This board is large, measuring in at 17-inches by 12-inches. It holds a lot of food for you and your guests. There are three built-in compartments. These work perfectly for holding diced vegetables or cubes of cheese. The groove helps to catch any juices that drip from your food so you countertop stays clean. There’s a handle for easy carrying, and you can hang it up in your kitchen.

Pros

  • Large size
  • Built-in compartments
  • Handle for hanging

Cons

  • The grooves aren’t very deep

Unique Bamboo Cheese Board, Charcuterie Platter & Serving Tray for Wine, Crackers, Brie and Meat

Two Side Trays

A bamboo charcuterie board with two indented side trays to hold all sorts of goodies.
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This charcuterie board would make an excellent gift for a housewarming party or wedding. It’s made from beautiful bamboo, so it won’t absorb any odors. This material won’t dull your knives when you cut on the top. There’s a square section in the middle, and smaller rectangular side trays on two sides that are indented. You can serve your cheese, fruit, and meat in the middle, and place your nuts and crackers on the sides. There are side handles that make moving the tray into the dining room easy. It’s easy to clean and maintain.

Pros

  • Two indented side trays
  • Side handles
  • Made from natural bamboo

Cons

  • A little on the small side

Organic Bamboo Cutting Board with Juice Groove (3-Piece Set)

Three Piece Set

If you want to set up multiple charcuterie boards, this set comes with three different sizes.
Best Variety

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Sometimes one charcuterie board isn’t enough. With this set, you get a small, medium, and a large. The small one is 9-inches by 6-inches. The medium is 12-inches by 8-inches, and the large one is 15-inches by 10-inches. The small board size is perfect to take along on trips, and the large one is big enough to use at a party. All three are made from organic bamboo, and are chemical free. These boards also have side handles for easy serving. It’s very comfortable to carry, even when there’s a lot of delicious food on it. There are small grooves around the edges, which will catch any drippings or juices as you cut meat and other items.

Pros

  • Three different sizes
  • Convenient side handles
  • Groove for catching juices

Cons

  • These are lightweight and may slide a bit while you’re cutting on them

Large Walnut Wood Cutting Board by Virginia Boys Kitchen

A Beautiful Charcuterie Board

If you want a board with rustic charm for serving charcuterie on, try this beautiful walnut option.
Most Elegant

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Are you looking for a charcuterie board that will last? This one is made from beautiful American Black Walnut wood. It’s harvested in a sustainable matter, helping to preserve the environment. After harvesting, it’s kiln dried and carefully smoothed. This product is made in the United States. It arrives unfinished, so you can select the type of finish and polish that you are comfortable using on a product touching your food. You can really customize this board depending on the finish you choose. There are also directions for a simple coconut oil seasoning you can apply. This is a large board, measuring 17-inches by 11-inches. There’s a groove around the outside edge to catch any drips or juice. Since it’s made from walnut wood, it’s heavier than bamboo charcuterie boards.

Pros

  • Sustainably harvested wood
  • Made in the United States
  • Large enough to hold a variety of charcuterie

Cons

  • Arrives in a raw, unseasoned state so you have to apply oil before the first use

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you take care of a charcuterie board?

Since charctuerie boards are made from wood, they require a bit of care and maintenance. The board you purchase may have specific directions, so always follow those. Typically, you will need to season or oil your wood periodically. This is a simple process. First, you need to make sure your board is clean and there aren’t any food remnants clinging to it. Take the time to dry it carefully. Next, decide what kind of oil you are going to use. Coconut oil and food grade mineral oil are common choices. You can also buy special creams for this purpose. Now, using a soft cloth or paper towel, apply the oil. You want to rub it around evenly, making sure you get the entire surface. Then, it’s time to let the oil soak in overnight. Then, wipe off the excess oil and use as normal.

Can I put my charcuterie board in the dishwasher?

No. Charcuterie boards are not dishwasher safe. They will crack or warp because of the heat and the large amount of water. You don’t even want to soak your boards when hand washing them. Instead, use a soft cloth and running water to clean. Then dry right away so it doesn’t crack.

What should I serve on my charcuterie board?

What you serve on your charctuerie board is entirely up to you. You can customize it with favorite foods for the people you are serving. Typically, you will find some sort of cured meat on the board. This could be something common such as salami and ham, or something a bit more unusual such as ballotines or confit. Along with your meat, you could serve a couple of different types of cheese. Another option is to add fruits such as grapes, pineapple, or orange slices to your tray. Nuts and olives are also popular on charcuterie boards. You want easy to serve, finger-food type items.