When we have a party or guests for dinner, we like to serve charcuterie. Like many of you we want to know how long a charcuterie board can sit out and still be safe to eat.
United States Food & Drug Administration
The United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) both have guidelines for food safety when you want to know how long can your charcuterie board sit out.
- Meats and cheeses can only sit for two hours before running the risk of bacteria developing
- Time will drop to 60 to 90 minutes if it the temperature is warmer
Plan Your Charcuterie Board Ahead of Time
Since you probably know about what time you will be serving your charcuterie board, you can plan ahead. You will need to think about where to place the charcuterie board. Will it sit outside in warm weather? Or, will it be located in a low temperature spot?
- Decide what to serve
- Avoid un-ripened cheeses in higher heats
- Keep uncured meats off charcuterie boards in higher heats
- Use smoked meats when heat is higher
- Opt for wet cured meats
- Use cheeses from pasteurized milk when heat is higher
- Add most cheeses just before serving
- Use hard cheeses like aged cheddar or parmesan
What Are Some Food Options?
Think a little differently when you are serving your charcuterie board in the summer or in higher temperatures. There are plenty of ideas to still have tasty, pleasing food when you want to know how long your charcuterie board can sit out. Since this does not mean you can’t serve meats or cheeses, you just need to be a little more creative.
Use Fruits and Vegetables
- Apples
- Slice apples
- Add a small amount of lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown
- Stone Fruits
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Add a small amount of lemon juice to prevent browning
- Dried Fruits
- Dried apricots add a bright orange color
- Dried mango slices add some sweetness
- Dried pineapple slices add a yellow contrast
- Dried banana slices bring a nice crunch
- Dried cherries add red color and sweetness
- Dried cranberries in a glass bowl add a holiday touch
- Nuts and Olives
- Add small bowls of almonds or your favorite nuts
- Use Castelvetrano olives for a bright green color
- Place dark purple kalamata olives as contrast
- Vegetables
- Slice cucumbers into rounds
- Add eggplant for some color
- Place baby peppers whole or sliced
- Add pickled vegetables for some tang
- Jams and Spreads
- Serve honey in a small glass bowl
- Place fig jam in another glass bowl
- Add hummus near your vegetable slices
When having your charcuterie board sit out, keep your food simple. Remember to add crackers in bowls near your charcuterie board. Baguette slices can be placed directly on the board or on small plates nearby. Decorate your board with some fresh herbs like sprigs of rosemary or bay leaves.
What Are Some Other Things I Can Do?
If we know our charcuterie boards will be out for more than two hours, we have different options. That way we won’t have to worry about knowing how long a charcuterie boards can sit out. These are some things we take into consideration.
- Think smaller
- Use two or three smaller charcuterie boards instead on one large one
- Think about using cutting boards if you need extra small boards
- Put all your perishable items in containers that are water proof so they can be in a cooler with melting ice
Organizing your charcuterie board ahead of time allows you to work around higher temperatures. Think about using more than one board so you can replace them as you need to.
- Place entire board in the refrigerator until just before serving
- Keep food in the refrigerator or a cooler until ready to use
- Make individual boards to serve over time instead of all at once
- Keep the extra charcuterie boards in the refrigerator
- Set a timer for 90 minutes
- Replace the entire charcuterie board at 90 minutes
Other options work well when you have a party or gathering that you know will last longer than an hour.
- Think about using marble charcuterie boards
- Arrange all the food on the marble board
- Place the marble board in the refrigerator until ready to serve
- Using marble allows your food to stay colder
- Use slate charcuterie boards
- Place all the food on the slate board
- Place the slate board in the refrigerator until ready to serve
What Else Should I Think About?
Pay close attention to time, especially when it’s hot. If you know the temperature forecast and it’s going to be 90ºF or more then put your board out right before guests arrive.
How Do I Serve Charcuterie Outside When Serving Indoors Is Not An Option?
- Keep your food in the shade (Bring shade if you have to)
- Bring a cooler or insulated container full of ice
- Place a shallow dish full of ice under your charcuterie board
- Cover your food with parchment paper until you are ready to serve
- Use a fly fan for and place it near your charcuterie platter
Do you know how to clean your charcuterie board? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to clean your charcuterie board.