How to Arrange a Seafood Platter

A busy seafood platter looks bountiful to the eye.

Deli platters, fruit platters and vegetable platters are common party food displays, but if you really want to spruce up your event, set up a seafood platter or two. A tray teeming with fresh shrimp, scallops and other delicacies from the deep will have your guests thinking they are at a swanky Hollywood affair and not just your semi-annual dinner party. Although some guests may have to shy away from the tray because of allergies, those that don't are in for a treat. Arrange to have several freshly made dipping sauces as well as a variety of different seafood.

Things You'll Need

• Ceramic or metal platters
• Ice
• Bowls
• Dipping sauces
• Seafood forks
• Serving spoons
• Lemons
• Appetizer plates
• Toothpicks
• Napkins
• Seafood crackers (optional)
• Pot, such as a small slow cooker or chafing dish
• Melted butter

Instructions

1. Determine how many guests will be attending the function when deciding how much seafood to offer. Allow for approximately 1/2 pound of seafood per guest, unless there are other appetizers or entrees being served; if so, cut the amount to 1/4 pound per person.

2. Choose a large ceramic or metal platter with high, non-perforated sides to display your seafood offerings. Conversely, set up a multi-tier platter with a large platter below and a smaller platter suspended by a brace above.

3. Fill the platter or platters with a layer of crushed ice.

4. Place a large bowl or three smaller bowls in the center of the display for dipping sauces, such as seafood sauce, tartar sauce, horseradish and mustard sauce.

5. Arrange the seafood around the sauce bowls. Place like items together or scatter them in a random pattern. Choose easy to handle seafood such as shrimp, crawfish, sashimi such as tuna and salmon, and sea scallops. Leave shellfish in the shell, or at least a half shell, if serving clams, mussels or oysters.

6. Arrange to have small seafood forks, serving spoons, lemon slices, appetizer plates, toothpicks and napkins near the seafood platter display for easy guest access.

Tips & Warnings

• If serving lobster or crab, arrange to have seafood crackers available for the guests to crack the shells open. Arrange to have a warm pot filled with melted butter as well as small bowls to put the butter into.