Grazing platters are great because they offer popular foods that look amazing and taste even better. They’re trendy and a big hit on social media.
But what’s the secret behind their success? Are they best for big events or cosy get-togethers? How do I choose a grazing platter that’s big on taste and savings?
If you’re looking to class up your next event and still get great value, then grazing platters are an awesome option.
What is a grazing platter?
Grazing platters are large platters of finger foods that your guests can casually “graze” on.
This trendy platter style is a big deal right now. Grazing platters are a huge social media success and party favourite because they’re always dressed to impress.
There are a couple of tips and tricks to achieve this lovely grazing look. The rule of three is a popular tactic (three breadsticks, three cracker types, three dips, etc.) as it gives your platter a natural feel.
Balancing colours is also a big deal. Grapes, brown seed crackers and jams are classic choices because they taste great and help keep your platter looking nice and fresh.
What is a grazing table?
A grazing table takes everything to a whole new scale. All the artful design of grazing platters with the scale of a full tabletop.
It’s not quite a king’s feast but grazing tables get pretty close.
Grazing Board vs Charcuterie
Grazing platters and charcuterie boards are delicious food options and a whole lot of fun.
Both the grazing platter and its French cousin the charcuterie board feature an aesthetic presentation and a selection of light foods.
However, the two popular sharing platters do have some key differences.
- Purpose
While the purpose of both is to showcase delightful light snacks, they are ideal for different scenarios. Charcuterie boards are often appetisers before the main meal while grazing platters can serve as the centrepiece for a casual gathering.
- Focus
Charcuterie boards traditionally emphasise the cured meats with a support crew of cheeses, breads and spreads. Grazing boards can include everything from dried fruit and edible flowers to sunflower seeds and sweets.
- Variety
Grazing boards are all about the contrasting, clashing and combing of tastes. They’re perfect for groups dealing with a range of preferences and dietary requirements.
- Presentation
Charcuterie boards are built around some showstopping cured meat. The whole aesthetic and design is showcasing this. Grazing platters are more about putting together a colourful and fresh presentation.
Struggling to choose between the two incredible options? You can have it all with our Charcuterie & Artisanal Cheese Grazing Platter, equal parts flavourful and revolutionary.
What to Put on a Grazing Platter
Grazing platters are awesome at pulling together a bunch of great flavours, textures, tastes and styles. It’s more art than science but here are some classic grazing features:
- Cheeses
The cheeses are the crown jewels of any grazing platter, the constant crowd favourite. You can experiment with anything from brie and cheddar to blue cheese and goat cheese.
- Cured Meats
Cured meats are a charcuterie staple and a popular addition to any classic grazing platter. The smoky flavours and texture of prosciutto, salami or soppressata are a great way to balance out the other tangs and tastes.
- Vegetables
All your favourite fresh vegetables – cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, capsicum, sliced eggplant – are perfect. A garnish of olive oil also goes great with most of these.
- Fruits
Balance out all those great veggies with some quality fruit options. Dried fruits like figs and apricots go great with smoked meats while fresh fruits like grapes and berries bring a lovely texture to cheese and crackers.
- Dips and Spreads
Your sweet, savoury and salty spreads are what bring the whole platter together. Beetroot hummus is well-loved at the moment for its bright pink colour and it’s hard to go past a spiced hummus or fresh guacamole.
- Crackers and Bread
And of course, no grazing platter is complete without some crackers and bread. Both soft fluffy bread and crunchy baguettes are popular.
For the bold grazer, the crunch and strong flavour of seeded crackers make them a particularly trendy choice.
Some tasteful sweeteners like dark chocolate and honey can also be a nice touch. And of course, olives and herbs are a great way to top things off.
The good news is you can get away with pretty much anything from edible flowers to naan bread. That’s what makes grazing platters so much fun.
As long as it tastes great and looks even better, the world is your oyster (another popular grazing option).
Why are grazing boards so popular?
Grazing boards are popular because they’re fun, fancy and packed with crowd favourites.
Take our All Day Grazing Platter, which comes with all the spiced dips, fresh fruits, tasty sweets and cured meats you could ask for.
When it comes to grazing platters, everything has to be just right. It’s all about balancing your cured meats, cut cheeses, thick dips and soft bread. It may sound silly but looking after your guests can be a lot of fun.
That’s a big part of the grazing board appeal. Packing so many delicious flavours into one awesome platter is a definite challenge but a guaranteed hit if you pull it off.
How to Make a Grazing Platter
Now here comes the hard part. Since grazing platters are so amazing and delicious and beautiful, what does it take to make one?
First of all, there are no clear-cut rules (a big part of the fun!). That being said, it’s best to have a bit of time, some quality food and an eye for art.
For some people, working away on the perfect grazing platter is a lot of fun.
Others are more than happy to just enjoy the final product. If you like the sound of a grazing platter but aren’t sold on the time drain, you can always order directly from our selection of great grazing platters.
We guarantee pristine delivery, perfect taste and a beautiful spread.
Final Thoughts
Grazing platters are an amazing option for every event and party. They’ve got all the Instagram-ability, flexibility and flavour you could ask for.
Whether you’re putting on a formal event or a special get-together, our expertly crafted grazing platters are guaranteed to impress. Grazing platters are trendy for their picture-perfect layout and timeless for the great tastes they pull together.
Check out our full collection of delicious grazing platters today and see what all the fuss is about.