Serving a cheese board at any gathering is a guaranteed hit. Guests inevitably arrive hungry and need something to graze on, and a pleasing array of cheeses, crackers, fruits, nuts, and assorted accompaniments is always a welcome sight.
A good cheese board should contain a variety of textures and flavors, ranging from hard and sharp to soft and mild. These options might include sharp cheddar or gouda on the firmer end, and brie or fresh mozzarella on the softer side.
There is an art to arranging a cheeseboard, however, and it starts with slicing your medium-to-hard cheeses evenly. Anyone who has sliced a fair amount of cheese knows this task is easier said than done.
So, how do you ensure your slices are uniform? You don’t need any special tools — just a regular fork.
The Tine Technique
Unwrap your cheese and place it on a cutting board in front of you. Hold your fork horizontally, extending it away from you with the tines facing outward. Then, lower the fork so the flat back of the tines rests against the top of the cheese block, with the tips of the tines hanging just over the edge of the cheese. Gently press the tines into the surface to create a row of uniform indentations. Repeat this motion across the length of the block. These marks serve as the guide for your knife. By following the notches, you can ensure perfectly even slices every time. Your cheeseboard will look more professional and you won’t end up with varying widths of aged cheddar.
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To Slice or Not To Slice
You don’t have to preslice cheese for your guests. It’s acceptable to leave the cheese as-is and provide cheese knives so guests can serve themselves. However, if you’re looking to stretch your cheese to feed a larger crowd, preslicing is the way to go. Additionally, providing a dedicated knife for every type of cheese can prove cumbersome, as it often results in a cluttered board with too many tools.
