If I could eat charcuterie meats every day without turning into a salt-cured version of myself, believe me, I would. There’s something irresistible about the combination of savory, perfectly spiced meats and all those fancy cheeses, pickles, and jams. But alas, balance is key, and my doctor would probably stage an intervention if I tried to live on prosciutto alone. When I do indulge in one of humanity’s finest edible masterpieces, I want to do it right. From silky slices of prosciutto to spicy Toscano salami, these are the best charcuterie meats you’ll never get “board” of. Ha ha. Charcuterie puns. Okay let’s get into it.
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- Foustman’s Hot Toscano Salami
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Our favorite salami comes from an artisanal, family-owned salami business in San Francisco, but you can order their charcuterie meats pretty easily via Amazon. We loved all of the Foustman’s salami flavors we tried, but the Calabrian chiles in their hot Toscano impressed us the most. This salami will be the showstopper of your charcuterie meats—and probably the first thing to go on the board. Don’t skimp!
Read our full ranking of the best salami
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- Authentic Seafood of Patagonia Latitude 45 Atlantic Salmon
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Smoked salmon is one of the best meats for charcuterie boards, and that’s a hill I’m willing to die on. In my family, if we’re laying out the salami and brie, we’re also putting out the smoked salmon and lemon-dill cream cheese dip. Latitude 45 Smoked Salmon is the way to go. It’s silky. The flavor isn’t too salty or fishy, and the texture is quite tender and luxurious. You can easily peel each slice without making a mess—perfect for easy board assembly. Somehow, the best smoked salmon brand we tried is also among the most affordable, so you won’t break the bank by adding a little fish to your meat-and-cheese spread. Isn’t it nice when life works out that way?
Read our full ranking of the best smoked salmon
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- Appleton Dry Cured Ham Prosciutto
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It’s the age-old saying: Don’t judge a ham by its shape. Yes, Appleton Dry Cured Ham Prosciutto comes in even and, frankly, suspicious-looking rectangles. But the flavor? Divine. These slices are savory, fruity, tender, and deliciously fatty. Appleton’s prosciutto is also an Aldi product, meaning it’s super affordable compared to other brands. “I will go to Aldi just to stock up on this prosciutto,” says Sporked editor-in-chief Justine Sterling, standing on business. And I’m right there with her.
Read our full ranking of the best prosciutto
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- Trader Joe’s Natural Turkey Summer Sausage
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I know, you might be a little disappointed to see a turkey sausage take the top spot in our ranking of the best summer sausages—but hey, we’ve got other recs in that article if you want something more classic! We can’t help that this turkey sausage from TJ’s totally blew us away. The pickling spices and touch of tanginess combine to make a wholly unique, irresistible flavor. It’s very different from salami, which is why these charcuterie meats can sit side-by-side and bring their own pizazz to the table.
Read our full ranking of the best summer sausage
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- Battistoni Cup & Char Style Pepperoni
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When we’re looking for the best charcuterie meats, we’re looking for substance, style, and affordability. Battistoni Cup & Char Pepperoni tics all three boxes. We found a ton of yummy pepperoni in our taste tests, and while I think Battistoni may have intended for these pepperoni slices to wind up atop a pepperoni pizza, these are also super snackable on their own. Trust me: They belong on your board.
Read our full ranking of the best pepperoni
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- True Story Uncured Wildflower Honey & Maple Ham
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Look, not all deli hams deserve a spot among your favorite (and more widely popular) charcuterie board meats. But this delectable honey and maple ham from True Story is, you guessed it, another story. If you told us these slices were freshly cut from a real honey baked ham, we’d believe you. With a delicious caramelized honey flavor on the rind and juicy, tender slices, we just know these would go absolutely ham on a fancy cracker with some fancy cheese. That was my last pun for this article, I promise!!
Read our full ranking of the best deli ham
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