The Cracker Mistake That's Ruining Your Charcuterie Board

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

A well-crafted charcuterie board is a delicate balance of flavors, textures, and visual appeal. It takes planning, time, and care. But it can all be ruined with one seemingly innocuous detail — choosing the wrong crackers. Though there are a variety of things to consider when selecting crackers for your charcuterie, above all they should be sturdy. After all, they must hold the assortment of cured meats, cheeses, spreads, schmears, jams, fruits, and any other accoutrements on hand. Crumbly butter-laden crackers (such as Ritz or Keebler Club) can wreck an otherwise tasty board. With one bite, these otherwise crowd-pleasing crackers break, flake, crack, and crumble under pressure.

A great charcuterie board is not just about tasty snacks — you're building an experience. Anything that fumbles the presentation or interrupts the natural flow of taste and texture can detract from the magic. Imagine you've arranged that perfect bite of prosciutto, smoked oyster, and Gouda, only to be vexed by a crumbling cracker disintegrating before it ever reaches your mouth? Not only disappointing, it's messy and even potentially embarrassing. Cracker crumbs in your cheese spread, preserves, or tapenade? That's a vibe killer, and it can lead to food waste, as guests swerve around those items to avoid the pesky crumb trail. This is why it's worth doing a little cracker recon before assembling your ideal mix. And for everything else, try consulting the ultimate guide to building a charcuterie board to help you plan and choose the most suitable options for your board.

Crackers play an important role in a charcuterie board — they're responsible for delivering all your scrumptious offerings from the board to your eagerly awaiting taste buds. They should never be treated as an afterthought. Offer a variety of crackers, but not so many that it overwhelms — two to four max. You'll want all of the crackers you choose (regardless of type) to be firm enough to lay the foundation, holding multiple ingredients without shattering the moment someone takes a bite. Research which popular cracker brands are ranked worst and best, and always sample before choosing, so you know their individual characteristics like flavor profile, texture, size, and shape when pairing with other elements.

Having at least one neutral cracker on hand is essential — something simple that allows your charcuterie and other tasty bites to shine. While Carr's Table Water Crackers are a classic go-to option (since 1832) for any fête, Simple Mills Fine Ground Sea Salt Almond Flour Crackers are a new fave and the absolute best crackers for any setting (including charcuterie) that's both subtle in flavor and a great option for gluten-free guests. Other choices should move beyond the plain, providing something more, like the heartier, slight nuttiness of a whole wheat cracker, the textured earthiness of a good seeded cracker, or the added dimension of small-batch artisanal crackers with flavors like cranberry and hazelnut or fig and olive.