When the temperatures climb and turning on the oven feels like a personal affront, the cheese board is your best friend. No cooking, minimal prep, and somehow it always looks impressive. But summer entertaining comes with its own set of rules — the heat changes what works, what holds up, and what makes people reach for more.
Here’s everything you need to know to build a summer cheese board that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
1. Mind the clock
Probably the most important, and hence #1, is to mind the clock. If you plan to build your board early, keep it in the fridge until about 30 minutes before guests arrive. Keep back up cheese, meats, and produced prepped and ready in the fridge for an easy refresh after about 2 hours.
2. Chill your board
We love a nice, wooden charcuterie board. But in the summertime, opt for marble or porcelain, which can be chilled for 30-60 minutes in the freezer. Starting with a cold surface will help keep cheese and meats from softening too quickly buying you extra time, especially for outdoor gatherings!
3. choose wisely
Not all cheeses stand up to the heat. Soft, high-moisture cheeses like mozzarella and brie can weep and lose their shape quickly. Opt for harder, aged cheeses like aged cheddar or gouda (Shaft’s Serendipity or Goumé, anyone??). Even aged blues can be used here, as their veining blooms and flavor deepens, just be sure to rotate your fridge stash every 2 hours or so.
4. be careful of juicy fruits
We love seasonal produce (see below…), but their juicy goodness can be the enemy of crisp crackers. Make sure to separate anything that could release juices – like watermelon, stone fruits, or berries – from those things you want to keep crisp. In fact, using ramekins or small bowls will contain juice and add a bit of interest to your board!
5. Select Meats
Some delicate, fatty meats are delicious, but will turn greasy in the heat. Opt for drier, harder cured meats like salami, soppressata, and hard chorizo. Pre-fold or roll before guests arrive to create a polished look. Keep extra in the fridge to replenish!
6. always seasonal
You know that we LOVE seasonal produce and summer is no different! Stone fruit, like peaches, cherries, apricots and plums, are delicious with Shaft’s Blue! Melons, berries, and grapes act as a palate cleanser between rich bites. Plus, they add a great pop of color and texture to your board!
To sum up:
In the summer heat, you might be tempted to shy away from charcuterie boards. It seems like having cheese sit out is not the best idea, but there are actually plenty of ways to enjoy an amazing charcuterie in the summer sun! Well… maybe not directly in the sun. In fact, make sure your setup is in the shade.
It all comes down to planning ahead, choosing the right items, and keeping replenishments handy and chilled. We never say never to a good cheese board, no matter the season!
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