Food Shopping and Storing Food Shopping & Storing How to Create the Perfect Cheese Platter What cheeses to buy―and how much―to create a delightful and delicious spread. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 10, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Wanting to host a cheese party is a no-brainer—who doesn't want an excuse to sample new cheeses from a lovely cheese board? The part that takes some thought is figuring out which cheeses to pick. Obviously, you want to include the most delicious or intriguing cheeses you can find (goat cheese is always a great option) and to give your cheese platter variety. Including lactose-free cheese or the healthiest cheese may be important, too, depending on your guest list. Whether you've never crafted a cheese platter, or you're a pro just looking for more ideas, this guide will teach you the best strategy for a perfect cheese platter. Selecting the Best Cheese for a Cheese Board Include a variety of textures and flavors. Choose at least one from each group of cheese: aged, soft, firm, or blue. Some examples: Aged: Aged Cheddar, Comte, Goat cheese, and Gouda. Soft: Constant Bliss, Camembert, and Brillat-Savarin. Firm: Manchego, Mimolette, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Blue: Gorgonzola Dolce, Valdeón, and Stilton.Consider selecting cheeses by the type of milk used (cow, goat, sheep). This will ensure a range of different flavors on the plate.Serve at least one familiar cheese. Gouda or Brie are fairly common, popular cheeses. How much is enough? A good rule of thumb is 1 ounce of each cheese for every guest and about five types of cheese.For a party in which cheese is the main event, plan on buying 3 pounds for eight people, 6 pounds for 16 people, or 9 pounds for 24 people. If cheese is one of many items being served, plan on buying 3 to 4 ounces per person.If you know from experience that one type of cheese is always the most popular, purchase extra of that variety. Cheese Board Accompaniments Offer a selection of breads. Include sliced baguette, bread sticks, and crackers in different shapes and sizes. Vary taste and texture among the breads as well as the cheeses.Jarred condiments and vegetables are quick and fuss-free. Try sweet preserves or honey, tart chutneys, and spicy mustards. You might add artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, and caponata. If you have time, prepare caramelized onions, which complement most cheese plates.Various other sweet and salty items can work. Try cured meats such as prosciutto and salami, or candied nuts and pistachios. Assorted seasonal and dried fruits can include figs, cherries, apples, and pears. Serving Tips Separate strong-smelling cheeses. If you want to serve a pungent, stinky-socks cheese, place it on a separate plate so it doesn't overpower the more delicate ones. Four or five choices are enough. Set out a separate knife for each cheese. Soft cheese spreads well with a butter knife; firm cheese might require a paring knife; and aged cheese often requires a cheese plane. Remove the cheese from the refrigerator an hour before serving. Cold mutes flavor. Spread out your spread. Place the cheese platters and the other nibbles on several tables to avoid guest gridlock. Label each cheese. You won't need to recite the names all evening, and you can jot down a few poetic adjectives describing their flavors. Learn how to store cheese properly. If you shopped in advance, preserve the cheese's quality long after it leaves the store. If there are leftovers, wrap them properly to enjoy again later. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit