A meat platter is a mixed platter of charcuterie that can be prepared for parties and paired with cheeses, dips, crackers, breads, fruits, and other snacks. Meats are arranged artistically and spiked with toothpicks or tongs to minimize hand contact. The meats used vary widely, and the tray is often lined with lettuce or other foliage. It’s best to display the tray on a bed of ice to keep the meat fresh, and leftovers should be refrigerated or discarded. It’s recommended to order the platter in advance from a deli or assemble it yourself with pre-ordered sliced meats.
A meat platter or party platter is a mixed platter of charcuterie that can be prepared as a buffet or a party. Typically, platters of meat are paired with platters of cheeses, dips, crackers, breads, fruits, and other snacks for guests, and are usually garnished with vegetables. Many delis produce meat platters that can be stocked with custom foods for special events, and it’s even possible to assemble your own meat platter, using meats, cheeses and other ingredients from a local deli.
The arrangement of a meat tray is generally designed to be at least vaguely artistic and to minimize hand contact with the food. Meats are often rolled up and spiked with toothpicks so people can grip the toothpicks instead of touching the meat directly, for example, or tongs will be provided to lift desired cuts of meat. Meats can be creatively fanned, stacked, or otherwise arranged so that the platter looks appealing to people who approach it.
The meats used on a meat platter vary widely. Cured meats are commonly offered, along with roasted meats such as beef, chicken and turkey. The tray is often lined with lettuce or other foliage in addition to the waxed paper, and side dishes such as vegetables cut into fantastic shapes, carrot sticks, sliced tomatoes, and chopped parsley are common; many people use garnishes to separate the different types of meat on the platter, making it easier for individuals to be identified. Edible flowers are also acceptable and sometimes quite pleasant garnishes.
In an ideal world, a tray of meat is displayed on a bed of ice which will help keep the meat fresh, reducing the risk of foodborne illness. Some cooks also try to avoid mixing meats and cheeses and typically encourage guests to pile the foods of their choice onto plates, rather than graze straight off the trays. Leftovers can be refrigerated if they haven’t been out for more than two hours; otherwise, they should be discarded.
If you plan to bring a tray of meats to a party, you may want to order it in advance from your deli, to make sure the deli has the meats you want in stock. This is especially true during the holiday season, when platters of meat are in plentiful supply at parties large and small. If you want to assemble your own, pre-order the sliced meats you need several days in advance and follow the handling and refrigeration instructions to make sure they remain safe to eat.
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