Slate

Cooksmill’s selection of slate platters offers a unique way to serve a range of dishes. With their rustic charm and sophisticated aesthetic, these platters provide the perfect backdrop for your culinary creations.

Organic Charm

Our slate platters bring a touch of organic charm to your table. The natural texture and colour variations of slate make each piece uniquely beautiful, adding depth and interest to your food presentation.

Versatile Showcase

From cheese and charcuterie spreads to sushi and canapés, our slate platters offer a versatile showcase for a variety of dishes. The dark, matte finish of slate contrasts beautifully with vibrant fruits, delicate pastries, and other colourful foods, making your dishes pop.

Quality Craftsmanship

Each of our slate platters is a testament to quality craftsmanship. Cut and shaped from natural slate, these platters retain the stone's inherent durability and resistance, ensuring they can handle the demands of regular use in a busy environment.

Easy Care

Our slate platters are easy to care for. They can be wiped clean with a damp cloth and can be easily washed by hand with warm soapy water to remove any residue. Their surface helps prevent the absorption of odours and stains, ensuring they maintain their pristine appearance.

Choosing the Right Slate Platter for Your Menu

Match the size and shape to what you're serving. Larger rectangular platters suit charcuterie and cheese boards where a range of items sit alongside each other, giving each element room without crowding the plate. Smaller, individual slates work well for single-portion starters or sushi, giving each guest their own presentation piece.

Consider the thickness and edge finish. Thicker slate holds up better to daily handling and resists chipping along the edges, which matters more in a busy kitchen where boards get moved and stacked frequently between services. A smooth, finished edge is also worth checking for, since raw or unfinished edges chip more easily with regular contact.

Think about how the dark surface works with your food. The matte black finish creates strong contrast against pale cheeses, pastries, and light-coloured garnishes, but consider how it reads under your restaurant's specific lighting, since darker surfaces can sometimes need brighter table lighting to show food at its best.

Seasoning and Caring for Slate Platters

Slate is naturally non-porous, which stops it absorbing bacteria, odours, or flavours from food between uses, unlike wooden boards. That said, some slate benefits from an occasional light coat of food-grade mineral oil, applied with a soft cloth once the platter is fully clean and dry, then left to absorb overnight before use. This keeps the surface looking rich and helps prevent staining from oily or acidic foods such as soft cheeses.

Hand wash slate with warm soapy water and dry it fully afterwards, since standing water left on the surface can dull the finish over time. Handle platters with both hands where possible and avoid stacking them directly on top of each other without padding between pieces, since slate can chip if knocked against a hard edge or dropped.

Slate Platters. Frequently Asked Questions

Do slate platters need to be sealed or oiled?
Many benefit from an occasional light coat of food-grade mineral oil, which helps prevent

staining from oily or acidic foods and keeps the surface looking its best. Check the individual product to see whether it comes pre-sealed or needs this care from you.

Are slate platters food safe?
Yes. Slate is naturally non-porous, meaning it doesn't absorb bacteria, flavours, or odours from food the way a wooden board can, making it a hygienic choice for cheese, charcuterie, and other shared serving.

Can slate platters go in the dishwasher?
This depends on the individual product and whether it's been sealed. Check the specific product listing, since some slate platters are dishwasher-safe while others are best hand washed to protect any oil seal or finish.

Why does my slate platter show marks from cheese or oily food?
Unsealed or unoiled slate can stain slightly from oily or acidic foods over time. A light coat of food-grade mineral oil, reapplied occasionally, helps prevent this and keeps the surface looking consistent.

How do I stop my slate platter from chipping?
Handle it with both hands where possible, avoid knocking the edges against hard surfaces, and store platters flat rather than stacked without padding between them. Thicker slate with a finished edge also holds up better to daily handling in a busy kitchen.