Cooking Utensil

10 Best Cheese Board Reviews and Buying Guide

What is Cheese Board?

Cheeseboards, also called cheese platters, are the perfect way to give your guests a treat. There are quite a lot of flavors and textures you can choose from. Thus, there are lots of recommendations for building your cheeseboard.

What varieties of material to choose from? How do you arrange the cheese on the board? With what food should you accompany it? Which wines are more appropriate in each case? There are many questions that assail us when choosing and preparing a cheese board at home.

Quick Summary

1. Best Overall SMIRLY Bamboo Cheese Board

2. Best Eco-friendly ECOEXL cheese board

3. Best spacious House Ur Home bamboo cheese board 

4. Best with Wine opener Royal Craft Wood Unique bamboo cheese board 

5. Best set ROYAMY cheese board

6. Best for Gifting Stedware Cheese board

7. Best versatile Zulay bamboo cheese board 

8. Best Small-Sized Hecef Cheese Board

9. Best Acacia Real Life Living Acacia Cheese Board

10. Best Budget Utopia Kitchen Cheese Board

1. Best Overall – SMIRLY Bamboo Cheese Board

Whether it is a wedding party or a romantic night with your one and only, a cheese board will help add some vibes to it. The SMIRLY Bamboo cheese board is a great choice when the aim is to dazzle your guests. It features a dimension of 13 x 13 x 2 inches

Display your delicious delectable with this charcuterie tray wide enough to host your meats, cheese, fruits, veggies, crackers and much more. Make your guests’ mouths water by displaying an array of appetizing offerings with this cheese board. It is made with durable bamboo material that makes it super smooth and aesthetically-pleasing. You also do not need to worry about odors as this cheeseboard is odor resistant. It features a pull-out drawer where you can put accessories. This board comes with stainless steel knives, slate labels, white chalk markers, and serving tools all which you will find in the slide-out drawer. It also includes a round tray that offers more space to display fruits and more cheese.

It makes for a great wedding, anniversary or birthday gift for that special someone you know loves to cook delicious meals.

2. Best Eco-friendly – ECOEXL cheese board

This cheese board set has everything you need and more to serve cheese at any party it is required. It is quite elegant and versatile as well.

It is odor-free and doesn’t absorb moisture from anything placed on it. Featuring four cheese knives made of stainless steel and cheese markets. It also has a slide-out drawer having 3 magnets embedded into it to provide more stability for your crackers or baguette slices. With a dimension of 13.4 x 13.4 x 1.5 inches, this cheese board have enough space for your cheese, fruits, snacks, wine, biscuits, appetisers and other delicacies. Enjoy nice parties both indoors and outdoors with this versatile cheese board. You can as well add more fun to your presentation with the funny markers that comes with this cheese board. It is easy to wash and portable enough for easy storage. 

3. Best spacious – House Ur Home bamboo cheese board

When it comes to versatility, going the extra mile and making your party the talk of the town, this cheese board is the answer to all that. It features many amazing qualities that makes it stand out. 

Add a luxurious feel to your events or gathering with this cheese board. It is made from eco-friendly natural bamboo that gives its smooth yet durable texture. It features four magnet drawers to serve as storage as well as to display food items during a party. These drawers do not interrupt you when using the board but allow for more ease while working. The board comes with 4 stainless steel knives featuring bamboo handles. It also comes with two ceramic bowl and two plates. Other accessories that comes with this chess board include three slat labels, 2 markers, a wine opener and two server forks. 

This elegant, versatile and easy to use cheese board is a great choice as a gift item. It can be presented at occasions like birthdays, weddings, housewarmings and even at Christmas. 

4. Best with Wine opener – Royal Craft Wood Unique bamboo cheese board

With a smart and elegant design, you get to enjoy delicacies at your parties while also beautifying the environment. The Royal Craft Wood cheese board offers excellent features which cooks will find captivating. Let us check out some of its useful features. 

Made with natural bamboo to give the smooth clean finish. Royal Craft Wood is known for carefully constructing quality items. They are the maker of this durable and sturdy cheese board. It is equipped with slip-resistant taps to stop it from sliding off the table. This cheese board is odor resistant, so you don’t have to worry about it tainting your spread. It is great for any occasion that requires serving platters. Enjoy a 1-year warranty and a money-back guarantee on this product.

5. Best Set – ROYAMY Cheese Board 

Here is another cheese board you can count on to come through at your elegant party. Enjoy this durable cheese board for almost any occasion

With a size of 14.5″ L X 11″ W X 0.6″ H, this cheese board have enough space to display delicious meat, cheeses, appetisers, desert and more. It comes with four cheese forks, 3 stainless steel knives with bamboo handles, and two ceramic bowls. The knife holder helps keep the nice safely secured why you working on the cheese board. The board is equipped with anti-slip rubbers on the bottom. This ROYAMY Bamboo cheese  board will add an elegant touch to your kitchen. It is very easy to clean this cheese board. 

6. Best for Gifting – Stedware Cheese board

Awe your guests with nice spread using this Stedware Cheese board. It is capable of functioning in any occasion you might need it for. Elegantly designed to captivate as well as give your guest mouth-watering service. 

It features a large serving board with a dimension of 15.75 x 12.99 x 1.57 inches. With this large serving area, you don’t have to worry about cheese running out at your function. It also comes with 3 ceramic dishes, 4 cheese knives and a snack tray for appetisers. The serving board also features grooves for crackers. It has to slide drawers at both ends to provide extra space. You can as well store essentials like knives in the groves located on the drawers. It doesn’t slip off the counter and is very easy to clean 

Not only does this cheese board offers premium service, it also comes in an elegant box, making it a great gift choice for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and even on Christmas.

7. Best versatile – Zulay bamboo cheese board 

Cheese tastes even more delicious when served the right way with the right serving board. This cheese board adds a sophisticated touch to your events. Let your guests feel the luxury you bring to the party. 

This cheese board is made from moso bamboo material. Its surface is smooth to the touch, odorless and all in all elegant. It includes 3 cheese knives with a fork all made with stainless steel equipped with bamboo handles for easy grip. It stays steady on a flat surface thanks to the 4 non-slip supports attached under it. The surface is large enough to hold crackers, fruits, cheese, appetizers and more.  It is great for both indoor and outdoor activities. Be it at the beach, in an indoor party or a picnic at the park, this cheeseboard will add warmth to your gathering.  It makes the perfect gift for occasions like housewarming, anniversaries, weddings and more. You get to enjoy a lifetime product guarantee with this cheese board.

8. Best Small-Sized – Hecef Cheese Board

When you need to choose a portable yet elegant cheese board, Hecef has you covered. With their portable cheese board with a dimension of 12 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches.

It is made from quality Acacia wood known for its peculiar contrasting color. With the quality of this wood, you have assured a life time use on this cheese board when treated properly. Due to its portability and non-stick property, this piece is very easy to clean. You can hang it after washing for a quick dry. This cheese board is not only great for serving cheese, it can also be used to prepare soups, sandwiches etc. Equipped with a handle that makes it easy to move the board around. It comes with its own knife sets, made with quality stainless steel with handles made out of acacia wood.

9. Best Acacia – Real Life Living Acacia Cheese Board

Here is another cheese board made with quality Acacia wood. This wood type is hard enough to last a life time yet very gentle on knife. The board is also scratch and water-resistant.

It comes with several accessories including cheese knife set: knives made of stainless steel and forks. Also, there is a wine opener. This cheese board is a complete set you need for any party. Relative to bamboo, this wood type offers more quality, is gentler on your knives, and does not crack like bamboo often does. It is easy to maintain, washing it is stress free. Compact enough for easy storage and also features ergonomic handles that makes it easy to carry.

10. Best Budget – Utopia Kitchen Cheese Board

From the stables of Utopia kitchen we have ourselves an awesome cheese board. It is made from Wooden oak and equipped with several accessories to make a full package.

It comes with four cheese knives, a slicing tray, and a sliding drawer. You can trust this cheese board to stay in your kitchen a long while due to its quality make. It is odor resistant, sturdy and a great sight to behold. Dazzle your guests with this uniquely made cheese board.

9 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Cheese Board

In fact, having a serving of cheese is an art. It is a skill that is cultivated and learned over time. However, for you, it will be as easy as reading this post. All you need do is follow this in-depth guide on choosing a cost effective cheese board and the art of choosing the servings.

1. A Beautiful Wooden Board

For your cheese platter, choose authentic materials. There’s nothing like a beautiful wooden tray that warms to perfection. Slate trays and wicker baskets are also a great alternative. The idea is to feel the rustic side of the food.

Do you want to emphasize the practical side? Opt for a swivel tray. In this way, wherever they are at the table, your guests will easily reach the piece of cheese that catches their eye.

2. Cheese Knives

While choosing your cheese board, the common accessories are the cheese knives. These are a necessity in products of this type. However, it’s not uncommon to see models with no cheese knives. There is quite a variety of knives. And, ordinarily, each type of cheese needs a different knife.

Here’s a guide on what knife is good for each cheese:

  • Longer knives for soft cheese: For cheeses like Camembert and Brie, the long knife which has a forked tip is recommended. This can also double as an effective spreader. The small round knife can also be used on soft cheeses as a spreader.
  • Pointed forks for aged cheeses: These forks are perfect for cutting harder cheeses, aged cheeses such as Parmigiano and Cheddar and blue cheeses such as Stilton. They’re also useful for transferring cheese to individual plates from the platter.
  • Shovel-shaped flat knives: These types of knives can be used to cut cheese into slices or cubes. They can also be used as spatulas for transferring cheese into a plate.

3. Cheeses to Choose

To make a good cheese board, it is important that there is a wide range of cheese varieties. Between 4 and 6 cheese varieties could be fine. In addition, it would be advisable that, at least, there was an easy cheese to recognize (Brie, Manchego, etc.). One option would be, for example, to choose cheese from each of the following categories.

  • Aged cheeses: Comté, Gruyere, Zamorano, Dziugas, Manchego, etc.
  • Soft cheeses: Brie, ricotta, feta, Camembert, cotija, Munster, Saint Felicien, Pont Leveque, Chevre, panela, Roquefort, gorgonzola, etc.
  • Hard cheeses: Parmesan, Appenzeller, Payoyo, Canestrato, Pecorino, etc.
  • Blue cheeses: Stilton, Gorgonzola, Roquefort, Cabrales, Montagnolo, etc.

Another option would be to assemble the board with cheeses made with different types of milk (goat, sheep, cow, etc.). Or, also a natural alternative; prepare it according to the area of ​​origin (for example, a board of American, Spanish, French or German cheeses.)

  • A goat cheese: Chabichou, Anari, Blue Rathgore, Banon, Ste-Maure-de-Touraine.
  • A sheep’s cheese: Manchego, Feta, Roquefort, Ossau Iraty.

4. Number of Cheeses on the Board

Depending on your wishes and the number of guests, offer a range of cheeses that will delight the taste buds of your hosts. By selecting a cheese from each category, you will get a rich and varied cheese platter. Your cheese board should contain at least three varieties of cheese: hard cheese, creamy cheese, and strong cheese. A Comté, a Camembert and a Roquefort will do the trick.

Do you prepare a multi-course meal and have few guests at your table? You can then consider serving a unique cheese: Comté, of course! You can have about 50 to 60 grams of cheese per person.

5. Decorations for the Cheese Platter

The next step or tip to having a complete and more than the run-of-the-mill cheese board is to garnish it with decorations. It must be pleasing to the eye. Presentation is important and an integral part of pleasure. A few vine leaves or wheat stalks will be beautiful. You can also add figs, grapes, nuts or a few dried fruits to make your cheese platter completely delicious.

Add a nice little jar of jam, some cooked prunes, and a little compote. Then vary the texture of the accompaniments, and your cheese platter will be all the more enticing.

6. The Accompaniment

Bread, cookies, figs, raisins, fruits, and nuts are the perfect accompaniment for cheeses. Going a little more to the particular, we can say that the loaves of bread and cookies go well with soft cheeses.

You can have the seed with goat cheeses; hazelnuts, almonds or walnuts, with cooked pasta cheeses (Comte, Gruyere, Marianne, Appenzeller, etc.); and almonds and cashews, with aged cheeses.

Plums, blueberries and dried apricots can also pair with all kinds of cheeses. They enhance the flavors without masking them.

You can serve just bread with your cheese platter. For the choice of bread, there’s a piece of advice: follow your desires! Pistolettes, chopsticks, wholemeal bread, etc., let your imagination run wild! It’s your call! How about you toast a few slices of bread before serving. Your guests will love it! For a more substantial cheese meal, add a few cherry tomatoes, a salad dressing, olives, and dry sausage.

7. The Placement

A good option is to place the cheeses on the board, from the softest to the strongest, in a clockwise sense. Start from the softest, with the last one on the circle being the strongest. Do not forget that they have to be accompanied by cheese cutleries.

8. Cheese at Room Temperature

It is advisable to serve cheeses that are of room temperature. In summer you have to take them out two hours before consumption out of the fridge, and in winter four hours earlier. Preferably, the temperatures should range from 67 to 70°C. Thus, you will discover all the nuances that cheese offers us.

When cheeses are served while they’re too cold, then there’s the risk of muting the flavor and general taste. If they have not been able to come to room temperature, a trick (only in case of ’emergency’) is to heat the plate or board where you are going to serve them.

To store them in the fridge, it is best to do it in a transparent film. And when is the best time to serve the cheese platter? Well, the cheese platter is best served at the end of the meal.

9. Wine Pairing

Wine always goes along with cheese. However, there are no fast rules here. Do you want to favor ease and consistency? Do not hesitate to keep the same wine as the one you usually serve during the meal. Otherwise, serve wine with more intensity. Although there will be pairing issues, personal taste should always prevail.

There are harmonies that usually work very well. The Chardonnay will go well with a new Comté, predominantly lactic. Fruity Comté will go well with a distinctive white wine. As for the Yellow Wine, it will go wonderfully well with an aged Comté.

Strong blue cheeses also match very well with dessert wines such as Porto, Tawny, Oloroso, Pedro Ximenez or Sauternes. The soft ones match with white wines fermented in wood or with natural cider. The traditional hard cheese goes with craft beers; and astringent or very spicy wine, with liquors, or spirits.

Wrapping It Up

The most important thing to note when shopping for a cheese board is the material with which is was made. Also, you need to consider which function you want to use it for.  For eco-friendly enthusiasts, choose the ECOEXL cheese board. If you are looking for something portable suitable for small events, we recommend Hecef Cheese Board. Make your parties the talk of the town with the overall best SMIRLY Bamboo Cheese Board on our list. 

The holiday season is still long but fast approaching. It will soon be time to take out balls and garlands of light to decorate the Christmas tree. Confetti and party favors will energize New Year’s Eve, and in the kitchen, the blue strings will activate to prepare the traditional turkeys, zakuski and other gourmet dishes.

Asides the end-of-the-year festivities, birthday parties, and other events will come. In order to surprise your guests, you have decided to serve a nice cheese platter, just after the main meal. Great idea! The cheese platter ensures a very nice transition to dessert and will delight your guests. But beware: to get a flawless finish, making a cheese platter requires a little effort and a touch of imagination.

A nice cheese platter, between the main course and the dessert, is as rustic as it is appetizing. But which type of board and cheeses to choose? And what garnishes do you need for your board? We have served you a few tips on a silver platter! They will help you choose a cheese board and the cream of the crop cheese content.


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This post was last modified on February 19, 2022 12:53 pm

Clara

Senior editor and research expert. I tested most of the kitchen equipment and recipes at least once, but by no means claim to be a culinary genius.

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